What did President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation plan to accomplish?

Answer 1

it abolished slavery

It didn't abolish slavery itself. There is still slavery today, believe it or not! The Proclamation itself didn't do altogether that much. It just showed that all the black slaves SHOULD be set free. In fact immediately after the proclamation was published it didn't do altogether that much immediately but the slaves started of thinking of President Lincoln as if he was a savior! And that's the truth!

Answer 2

To fully explain what the Emancipation Proclamation was set out to accomplish, the background complexities of the proclamation are significant to the documents' complete purposes. In addition, it is important to see how the emancipation is connected to the Union's confiscation acts.The first version of Lincoln's emancipation policy was prepared in secret and without consultation. Lincoln set the stage for its presentation a the cabinet meeting of July 21, 1862, where he first read to them a series of executive orders that expanded provisions of the Confiscation Act and authorized the states to enlist Blacks for militia service. This did not mean to enlist them as soldiers, but use them in support duties such as laborers, cooks, and other support duties for the military.

Lincoln also showed the cabinet a draft order for colonizing the freed slaves by these orders in some tropical country.

Lincoln did not ask the cabinet for its opinion on these measures which did not radically change existing law or policy. At the end of the meeting he called for another cabinet session for the next day, July 22.

The next day he read to his cabinet the draft of a proclamation of general emancipation. Before he read this, Lincoln made it clear that he already decided the to issue a proclamation, his mind was made up and all he wanted was opinions on how and when to implement his decision.

Lincoln explained the the proclamation was based on and legal because of the Confiscation Act of July 17, 1862. And most importantly on his inherent powers as commander-in chief. In this position he was empowered to take all measures needed for the suppression of the rebellion. And, the proclamation was a fit and required act for ending an unlawful rebellion.

Except for one part of the proclamation, Lincoln clearly demonstrated that it was indeed a war measure.

The first draft contained no morality regarding the institution of slavery. It was truly the extension of the Confiscation Act. Lincoln made no reference to the US Constitution or the rulings the US Supreme Court made prior to the war. The way to compliance for the Confederate states would be to free all slaves. The draft proclamation stopped short of authorizing the enlistment of Blacks as soldiers in the military, and contained a lengthy paragraph on his advocated colonization of freed slaves outside the United States.

In summary, the Emancipation Proclamation, which was issued after the victory at the Battle of Antietam set to accomplish the legal basis for setting slaves free wherever the Union army held Confederate territory. The loss of slave labor would therefore weaken the South's ability to farm crops and use them to supply Confederate armies.

Answer 3

It kept the British and French from supporting the Confederacy - it would have made them look pro-slavery themselves.

Answer 4

The Emancipation Proclamation was written to free slaves. However, only slaves in rebelling areas could be freed. (Which means every state but Maryland.)