The Emancipation Proclamation

The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War. It declared the freedom of all enslaved people in the Confederate states that were in rebellion against the Union. While it didn’t immediately free all enslaved individuals, it was a significant step toward abolishing slavery and changed the war’s focus to include the fight for human rights. The proclamation also allowed for the enlistment of Black soldiers in the Union Army, strengthening its forces and contributing to the eventual victory over the Confederacy.