Emancipation Proclamation Dbq

The Emancipation Proclamation was a war against slavery and took place September 1862 during the Civil War (Keene 386). The proclamation was issued by the president of the United States of America. At the time of the proclamation, Abraham Lincoln was the president, and the reason for issuing the proclamation was because he felt it was a military necessity and to help the Union army by providing a strong military movement by crippling the fight of the Confederates (Bill of Rights Institute). Lincoln felt it was a military necessity because it was believed to be an act of justice, validated by the Constitution, but called on by the people to judge the people and reliance upon God’s merciful favor. The decree of the proclamation was to grant freedom to the slaves within the Confederate States if the States did not return back to the Union by January 1, 1863 by Union Army Control. The only way for slaves to have gained freedom is by the Union winning the war (Civil War Trust 1). The proclamation was issued just five days after Antietam, fought on September 17, 1862 (Civil War Trust 2). Lincoln knew that conservatives would not be happy and they would …show more content…
African Americans faced terrible treatment from the Confederates, like unequal pay, unequal insurance, and they served off duty during the Civil War (Keene 393). Religious groups stood up for the men that were trying to get away from their harsh situations and men stuck in their slave situations, and it was made known to Lincoln by the groups that they did not agree with mistreating the men. Religious groups petitioned Lincoln to free the slaves. Standing up with the military movement as an African American man was an honor for these men. The men made a contribution of service in the war that encouraged them to claim full citizenship afterwards because they earned it (Keene