How did the Emancipation Proclamation help the Union during the Civil War?

Answer 1

IT GAVE SLAVES FREEDOM SO THEY COULD FIGHT IN THE WAR AND THEY COULD HAVE MORE PEOPLE

It changed the stated purpose of the war from a war to preserve the Union to a war to end slavery. This helped prevent France and England from recognizing the Confederacy and intervening on its behalf.

ANSWER (correct answer)

It was suppose to give the slaves freedom but they never had it so they stopped/lacked working until they were finally freed. The slaves were allowed to fight up North because the Northern folks were abolitionist (people who disagreed with slavery). They fought in the 54th Regiment. That is where they were finally respected. The whites learned that they were brave enough to go onto a battlefield and risk their life to keep and save a country they don't belong to.

~Bms's anonymous

Answer 2

It prevented Britain and France from helping the Confederates, as it would have made them look pro-slavery themselves.

It also gave Union troops a licence to liberate any slaves they came across in their Southern campaigns, and this reduced the Southern workforce.

Answer 3

A very important point left unmentioned by the above answer is foreign relations.

Since the start of the war in 1861, the Confederacy desperately sought recognition and alliances from foreign countries- notably England and France. These two countries were arguably the most powerful on the planet, each with sprawling empires across the globe, and massive military forces to suit. The Confederacy badly wanted these countries' resources and military forces helping them.

It seemed natural for England and France to ally with the Confederacy. At the start of the war, the Union had set up "the Anaconda Plan", a great naval blockade of the Confederacy, impeding trade with European countries- which angered these neutral Europeans, especially England. French Emperor Napoleon III had aspirations for creating an empire in America- by 1863, French troops had already conquered Mexico and created a "Mexican Empire" under France's control. The US was strongly opposed to this action, so much so that the Union and Confederacy even briefly considered ending the Civil War, peacefully reuniting, and starting a war against France!

So the Emancipation Proclamation was Lincoln's way of telling England and France, "if you assist the Confederacy, you are supporting slavery." Since the Confederacy's constitution explicitly stated that slavery could not be banned, it was hard for England and France to dispute Lincoln's declaration, and slavery was highly unpopular in Europe. European countries could not and would not bring themselves to support the Confederacy, and some even gained a more favorable view of the Union and Lincoln.

This left the Confederacy to continue fighting the war alone, and with the Union victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg a few months after the Proclamation, it was pretty clear that the Confederacy's days were limited.

Answer 4

The Emancipation Proclamation did substantially contribute to the Union's military victory in the US Civil War. It undermined the Southern economy and social order by drawing large numbers of slaves away from their plantations. It also contributed directly to Union military strength by allowing the recruitment of Black men into the army and navy. African Americans finally had a concrete political and economic interest in the preservation of the Union. Black leaders and communities in the North, who previously were politically marginalized during the first two years of the war became increasingly important elements in the making of war policy. In the South, slaves were assured that a victory for the Union would at least put an end to their enslavement. This was head and shoulders above a peaceful agreement between the North and South which would have kept slavery, perhaps under the oversight of the Union. They therefore gave trust, loyalty and service to Union invaders.

Answer 5

By keeping Britain and France from intervening to help the Confederates. It would have made them look pro-slavery.

Answer 6

Because the civil war was based on slavery, the emancipation of proclamation started the end of slavery. The 13th amendment followed closely after and brought an end to all slavery.,