What did the Emancipation Proclamation accomplish?
*
10 points
ended the Civil War
freed the slaves in the Union
freed the slaves in the rebelling areas
declared a blockade of the southeastern coast
The Emancipation Proclamation accomplished the following:
1. Freed the slaves in the rebelling areas: The proclamation declared that all enslaved individuals in states or territories in rebellion against the United States would be "then, thenceforward, and forever free." This meant that all slaves in Confederate-held territories were legally considered free.
2. Did not immediately free all slaves: The Emancipation Proclamation did not immediately free all slaves in the United States. It only applied to those held in Confederate states that were in rebellion and did not include border states that remained loyal to the Union.
3. Changed the purpose of the Civil War: The proclamation shifted the purpose of the Civil War from solely preserving the Union to also ending slavery. It made the abolition of slavery a central goal of the Union forces and provided a moral basis for the war.
4. Legitimized recruitment of African Americans: The proclamation encouraged the enlistment of African American men into the Union Army and Navy, contributing significantly to the Union war effort.
5. Strengthened the Union's position internationally: The Emancipation Proclamation helped prevent foreign recognition and support for the Confederacy by placing the Union on the side of freedom and justice, which appealed to many European nations that had already abolished slavery.
It is important to note that the Emancipation Proclamation did not immediately grant full equality to African Americans, as it was primarily a military and political measure. However, it was a crucial step toward the eventual abolition of slavery in the United States.