What did the Emancipation Proclamation aim to do?

The Emancipation Proclamation was a pivotal executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. Its primary aim was to free the slaves in the Confederate states that were in rebellion against the Union. By declaring that all slaves in those territories are to be set free, the Proclamation aimed to weaken the Confederate war effort, as their economy relied heavily on slave labor. This action also redefined the purpose of the Civil War, making the fight not only about preserving the Union but also about the moral imperative of abolishing slavery.

While it did not immediately free all slaves in the United States, it was a crucial step towards the eventual abolition of slavery altogether, further solidified by the 13th Amendment. The significance of the Emancipation Proclamation is found in its direct impact on the lives of enslaved individuals and in its moral and political implications during the war.