What was the purpose of the Emancipation Proclamation?

The purpose of the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, was specifically to free the slaves in the Confederate states. This landmark executive order declared that all enslaved people held in the states in rebellion against the Union would be set free. It marked a significant turning point in the Civil War, transforming the conflict from one solely about preserving the Union into a battle for human freedom.

By freeing the slaves in the Confederacy, Lincoln aimed to weaken the Southern war effort, as enslaved labor was vital to the Confederate economy and military. Moreover, the proclamation allowed for the enlistment of Black soldiers into the Union Army, further bolstering its strength. The Emancipation Proclamation didn't immediately abolish slavery throughout the entire country—it applied only to those states in rebellion—but it laid the groundwork for the eventual passage of the Thirteenth Amendment, which permanently abolished slavery in the United States.