Emancipation Proclamations

The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 during the American Civil War. It declared that all enslaved people in Confederate-held territories were to be freed. While it didn’t immediately end slavery everywhere, it changed the war’s focus to ending slavery and allowed for the enlistment of Black soldiers. The proclamation also discouraged foreign powers from supporting the Confederacy. Overall, it was a significant step toward ending slavery in the United States, setting the stage for the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery nationwide.