Emancipation Proclamation Motivations

During the Civil War, one important event was the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln. Issued on January 1, 1863, this document declared that all slaves in the Confederate states were to be set free. However, the context surrounding this decision was complex and involved multiple military and political factors. As you consider the implications of the Emancipation Proclamation, reflect on which of the following was a primary reason that Lincoln issued it at that particular time.