What major social issue did the Emancipation Proclamation address?

The Emancipation Proclamation specifically addressed the issue of slavery, which was a central and defining social issue in the United States during the Civil War. Issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, the proclamation declared that all enslaved individuals in the Confederate states were to be set free. This was a pivotal moment in American history, as it not only aimed to weaken the Confederate war effort but also signified a moral stance against the institution of slavery.

While issues like women's suffrage, labor rights, and interstate commerce are significant in their own contexts, they were not directly targeted by the Emancipation Proclamation. The focus was squarely on the freedom of enslaved individuals, which laid the groundwork for subsequent amendments to the Constitution that would fully abolish slavery and promote civil rights in America.