What was the purpose of the Emancipation Proclamation?

The purpose of the Emancipation Proclamation was to free the slaves. Issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, this landmark executive order proclaimed the freedom of all enslaved persons in the states that were in rebellion against the Union during the Civil War. While it did not immediately free all enslaved individuals, it was a crucial step towards the abolition of slavery in the United States.

This action transformed the Civil War’s purpose from solely preserving the Union to also including the fight for freedom. It allowed for the enlistment of African American soldiers into the Union Army, further empowering the anti-slavery cause. The Emancipation Proclamation laid the groundwork for the eventual passage of the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery altogether in 1865, reinforcing its significance in American history.