Emancipation Lesson

Proclamation

The Emancipation

Proclamation

September 22, 1862

Freeing the slaves in the South

-President Lincoln used the aftermath of the Union victory at Antietam to give
an executive order that would change the legal status of slaves in
Confederate states to be free (effective January 1, 1863)

-Although this order was designed to free slaves in Confederate states, it did
not address slavery that was still being practiced in Unionborder states

If the Confederate states were their own country,
would they have to follow laws passed by the Union?

Freeing the slaves in the South

-While the Confederacy felt that they did not have to listen to Union laws, this
meant that if slaves were to cross into free states, they would be free

-This also meant that if the Union won the war, slavery would be abolished in
the South

-Lincoln thought that if he freed slaves in border states, they would secede and
join the Confederacy, making it harder to win the war