Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln’s idea for a slave-free nation was not just undermined by the South but by the Constitution as well, which committed the issue to individual states. As such, efforts taken by the Federal government alone could not resolve the issue.
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To put an end to slavery, Lincoln offered the states compensated emancipation in return for their prohibition of slavery. He believed that this method would help curtail slavery from within the roots.
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Thus, the Second Confiscation Act was passed on July 1862 according to which the slaves were guaranteed freedom. The main purpose behind this act was to weaken the rebellious war that the opponents had raised. Though Congress was not successful in permanently dissolving slavery, it did show Congress’ support for liberating slaves owned by slave owners.
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Same time, Lincoln came with the first draft of the Emancipation Proclamation according to which he stated that all persons held as slaves in the Confederate states will be free and liberated.
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The Emancipation Proclamation was official issued on September 22, 1862 and came into practice since January 1, 1863. It declared the slaves in the 10 states not present in the Union as free.
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The next few months were spent preparing the army and the country for emancipation.
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Abolition of slavery became a military objective and to fulfil the same, the Union armies proved tough. The more they advanced towards South, the more slaves were being free and liberated and thus, the objective was nearing accomplishment. In a short time, all the slaves, the number counting up to three million were freed from Confederate territory.
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Once free, the slaves were absorbed by the military as more and more black recruitments seemed to occur. This was the original policy that the government promised to act upon after the issuance of Emancipation Proclamation.
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In 1863, Lincoln and the rest of the Republican and other supporters attained partial victory. Emancipation of slaves had become a national war effort and a democratic government which was of the people, by the people and for the people had evolved. Lincoln commented that the war was an effort to bring in liberty and equality for all.
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