Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation

The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, was a pivotal document during the American Civil War. It declared that all enslaved people in Confederate states were to be freed. While it didn't immediately free any slaves, it transformed the war's purpose, making the fight against slavery central to the Union's cause. The proclamation also allowed for the enlistment of Black soldiers in the Union Army, contributing to the eventual abolition of slavery with the 13th Amendment in 1865. It marked a significant step toward civil rights and equality in the United States.