Purpose of the Emancipation Proclamation

The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, marked a pivotal moment in American history. It declared that all enslaved persons in states that were in rebellion against the Union were to be set free. This document changed the legal status of over three million enslaved individuals and was a significant step towards the abolition of slavery. To understand its implications, consider what the primary aim of the proclamation was and its effects on the Civil War and American society.