What was the purpose of the Emancipation Proclamation and what did it accomplish?

The Emancipation Proclamation was decreed by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation was one of the most unprecedented acts in United States history. It was the initial Civil Rights act in the United States that changed African- Americans' status from enslaved to free. President Lincoln is credited for emancipating around four million African-Americans who were in the country at that time.

President Lincoln was against slavery but valued the unity over division within the states. His ethical and religious beliefs led him to continue on with his last move to cripple the south's economic system by giving freedom to slaves. The Emancipation Proclamation was controversial, compassionate, as well as a strategic move by President Lincoln to weaken the south's ability to fight and regain unity among the divide states.

The Emancipation Proclamation was a controversial document. In the south, the arguments were common and well known; Southerners did not want to interrupt their economic stability, have the federal government meddling in state legislature and they argued the slaves did not know how to function without an overseer. Northerners, as well as southerners, had issues with freeing the slaves. The majority in the north thought slavery was wrong, but the underlying question was if they could assimilate into the United Sates after being under bondage and great depression for 250 years. It came around the time where many thought the freedom of slaves would destroy our country.

The practice of slavery did not agree with the thoughts of our fore fathers. For Thomas Jefferson said, "... that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with inherent and inalienable rights; that among these, are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their safety and happiness."

President Lincoln understood that slavery contradicted the Constitution. Slavery dehumanized people and stripped them of the rights our forefathers died to protect in the American Revolution. Many questioned in their hearts how the slaves would overcome. Another common view was how people could operate in a system of freedom when they were born into the system of slavery. Their minds were conditioned to rely on the plantation owners for supplies and shelter. People wondered if the slaves were ready for the responsibility of free men. The correct response was yes because our nation is founded on the principles that give everyone equal opportunity to succeed, not the inherent right to success.

The Emancipation Proclamation was the necessary legislation that gave slaves their opportunity to free life in the United States. It was the culminating act of many arguments and papers by abolitionists. It was an endearing proclamation by President Lincoln to free slaves. The oppression caused by servitude was lifted. They knew not what the future would bring, but hope was better than their circumstances. Slaves in the north were overjoyed. The slaves in the south were slowly notified of the great news. People say President Lincoln had many reasons for why the slaves were freed; some were political as well as ethical and spiritual. All arguments resulted in freedom to abused and misused people in the land of freedom, which we call America.

One of the more hidden and less talked about reasons (for the president to ban slavery) was the south's inability to produce income to fight the Civil War. The freedom of the slaves was the last initiative or stand that would put a stop to the rebellion in the south and reunite the south with the north. President Lincoln was faced with the tough decision of freeing the slaves. He was personally against slavery and understood the union was greater than anything else. President Lincoln made the right decision for the betterment of all the people. His move to free slaves had a bi-fold effect. It disrupted the economy of the south as well as freed oppressed people.

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The Emancipation Proclamation granted freedom to the slaves in the Confederate States if the States did not return to the Union by January 1, 1863. In addition, under this proclamation, freedom would only come to the slaves if the Union won the war.

By the President of the United States of America:

A Proclamation.

Whereas, on the twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing, among other things, the following, to wit:

"That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.

"That the Executive will, on the first day of January aforesaid, by proclamation, designate the States and parts of States, if any, in which the people thereof, respectively, shall then be in rebellion against the United States; and the fact that any State, or the people thereof, shall on that day be, in good faith, represented in the Congress of the United States by members chosen thereto at elections wherein a majority of the qualified voters of such State shall have participated, shall, in the absence of strong countervailing testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such State, and the people thereof, are not then in rebellion against the United States."

Now, therefore I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested as Commander-in-Chief, of the Army and Navy of the United States in time of actual armed rebellion against the authority and government of the United States, and as a fit and necessary war measure for suppressing said rebellion, do, on this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and in accordance with my purpose so to do publicly proclaimed for the full period of one hundred days, from the day first above mentioned, order and designate as the States and parts of States wherein the people thereof respectively, are this day in rebellion against the United States, the following, to wit:

Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, (except the Parishes of St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, St. John, St. Charles, St. James Ascension, Assumption, Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Mary, St. Martin, and Orleans, including the City of New Orleans) Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, (except the forty-eight counties designated as West Virginia, and also the counties of Berkley, Accomac, Northampton, Elizabeth City, York, Princess Ann, and Norfolk, including the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth), and which excepted parts, are for the present, left precisely as if this proclamation were not issued.

And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.

And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free to abstain from all violence, unless in necessary self-defence; and I recommend to them that, in all cases when allowed, they labor faithfully for reasonable wages.

And I further declare and make known, that such persons of suitable condition, will be received into the armed service of the United States to garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said service.

And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind, and the gracious favor of Almighty God.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the eighty-seventh.

By the President: ABRAHAM LINCOLN
WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.

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