What is the Emancipation Proclamation?
The Emancipation Proclamation is a big word that means “a formal order to free.” It was a rule made by President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War.
When and who?
It was issued on January 1, 1863, by President Abraham Lincoln. He led the United States during the Civil War.
What did it do?
It said that enslaved people in the states that were in rebellion against the United States would be free. Enslaved people in areas not under rebel control or in border states were not freed by this order at first.
Why is it important?
- Changed the goal of the war to include ending slavery.
- Allowed Black people to join the Union Army and help fight for freedom.
- Helped pave the way for the Thirteenth Amendment, which made slavery illegal in the United States.
Key facts
- Issuer: President Abraham Lincoln
- Date: January 1, 1863
- What it did: Freed enslaved people in Confederate states in rebellion
- Limitations: Did not free enslaved people in border states or in areas controlled by the Union
- Impact: Pushed the nation toward ending slavery and allowed some Black soldiers to serve
What it means today
Even though it did not free everyone right away, the Emancipation Proclamation is a symbol that slavery was wrong and that the country began to change toward freedom for all people.