What were the effects of the emancipation proclamation in the US?

Answer 1

Some mistakenly think that the proclamation did nothing. In one sense, a proclamation of itself NEVER does anything -- but instructs that something BE done. Thus, Lincoln' proclamation gave instructions to the Union armies, which they then DID carry out from January 1, 1863 till the war's end.

Specifically, the Emancipation Proclamation itself:

1) immediately secured the freedom of slaves from states in rebellion who had fled behind Union lines (guaranteeing they would NOT be returned to their masters.

2) instructed the Union's armed forces, AS they advanced and took over territory in the South, to announce & secure the freedom of slaves in those regions. (In fact, by the end of the war MOST slaves in Confederacy had been freed via the carrying out of the Proclamation.

3) provided for the recruitment of freed slaves into the Union army -- a large number joined, fought valiantly & were key to the eventual Union victory

A short term effect of the "preliminary" proclamation (of September 22, 1862) was that Lincoln & the Republicans took a hit in the 1862 fall elections. Many in the North, esp. Democrats, were unhappy & this mobilized them.

A bit less directly, via the proclamation:

1) Lincoln gained increased leverage in convincing border slave states to end slavery themselves (as he'd been trying to convince them to do for most of two years).

2) It became more difficult and eventually impossible for British leaders --who informally recognized & surreptitiously supported the Confederacy -- to do so *officially*, because there was widespread popular opposition in England to a "war in support of slavery".

3) France was kept from backing the Confederacy as well. (French leaders WANTED to support the South, but only if Britain would do so first.)

4) Lincoln was able to begin to gather support for a PERMANENT end to slavery throughout the nation (secured in 1865 via the 13th Amendment, which Lincoln did a LOT to lobby for). The valiant fighting of black regiments (possible through the Proclamation) helped secure popular support for this move in the North.