Emancipation+Proclamation

=__**The Emancipation Proclamation**__=

The Emancipation Proclamation was a document that helped free many slaves. The first one issued on September 22 1862. It helped declare all slaves in the Confederate States free. The second one was issued January 1 1863 naming all the states. It didn't free slaves from border states or from states that were already under Union control. toc

__**Background**__
In the Fugitive Slave law it required that fugitve slaves were returned to their masters. On March 13 1862 Lincoln told all the Union officers not to return fugitive slaves to their masters. In April 1862-June 1862 slaves were freed and their owners were compensated. On June 19 1862 Congress prohibited slaves in United States territory. On March 13 1862 Lincoln forbade any Union officer to return a fugitive slave to their masters. On April 10 1862 Congress said they would compensate any slave owners who set their slaves free. Some of the slaves in Washington DC were freed on April 6 1862 and all of their master were compensated for freeing their slaves. On June 19 1862 Congress made slavery in the United States illegal and by doing this they opposed the 1857 ruling of the Supreme Court in the //Dred Scott case//. On September 7 1862 there was an rally in Chicago because people wanted Lincoln to free slaves immediately. The proclamation didn't free slaves merely gave the ones who were under Union control freedom. After the Battle of Antietam, president Lincoln thought it would be a good idea to tell everyone about the Emancipation Proclamation. The Proclamation was launched 100 days later in January 1863. When the slaves heard of the Emancipation Proclamation they started fleeing to the Union lines. The abolistionists thought that the Emancipation would be a trigger for war instead of something that helps end the war.

__**Impacts**__
There were many different impacts when this proclamation was announced. There were the political impacts, international impacts, and then there was the immediate impacts. Some of the political impact was that the Copperhead Democratics immediately denounced the Proclamation. The proclamation became a huge campaign issue in the 1862 elections. The Gettysburg Address made a huge reference to the Emancipation Proclamation.

Internation Impacts
The international impact was exactly what Lincoln had hoped for. France and Great Britain didn't extremely support the South because Great Britain and France had already abolished slavery and if they supported, France they would be supporting slavery. The Emancipation Proclamation was served to ease the tension with Europe over the Norths desire for no slavery. One person in Britain wrote to Lincoln saying, "We joyfully honor you for many decisive steps toward practically exemplifying your belief in the words of your great founders: 'All men are created equal". This mans name was Alan Van Dyke, who was a representative to the workers of Manchester.

Immidiate Action
Some of the immediate action was that it took a huge step towards the ultimate abolition of slavery and a "new freedom". None of the ex-slaves or masters went after the Emancipation Proclamation with violence. When the war was over some of the slaves who escaped to Union lines were held by the Union army as "contraband of the war". But when the proclamation came into affect they were told, at midnight, to leave the "contraband camps".

__**After the War**__
After the war abolitionists were afraid that the Emancipation would just act as a war act and wouldnt take action after the war. In his 1864 election campaign Lincoln promised to free all slaves throughout the Union. Slavery in Missouri was ended solely on their governor, Thomas C. Fletcher, on January 11 1865. When Lincoln was reelected he pressed the 38th Congress to pass the emancipation immediatly instead of waiting for the 39th Congress to reconvene. In January 1865 Congress sent to the state legislatures for ratification, which became the 13th amendment, it banned all slavery in the US and all its territories. After Lincoln died his work in the Emancipation was heavily praised. The "birthday" of the proclamation was celebrated as a black holiday for over 50 years. In 1913 when the proclamation celebrated its 50 birthday there were huge celebrations going on everywhere. But as time goes on Americans have still been cruel to African- Americans, so people started distrusting Lincoln and the proclamation.

__References__
www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/emancipation_proclamation/ www.nps.gov/ncro/anti/emancipation.html libertyonline.hypermall.com/Lincoln/emancipate.html