Why were people in the North angry about the Emancipation Proclamation?

Answer 1

The draft went down badly with the rank-and-file, and the families of the draftees, because it was allowable for a young man of military age to pay a substitute to do his service for him - if he could afford it. This seemed unfair, and the substitutes ere mostly useless.

The draft also went down badly with many of the newly-arrived Irish immigrants, who were seeking a better life, and objected to being conscripted into a war about which they knew and cared little.

The Emancipation Proclamation failed to make the North feel patriotic, and the Abolitionists objected to it because it allowed slavery to continue in the slave-states that had remained loyal.

Answer 2

The mid-term elections were the test of this - and they did not indicate any rush of moral fervour about ending slavery.

However, the main effect of the Proclamation was to deter Britain and France from granting recognition to the Confederacy and sending military aid. For this at least, Northern soldiers and their families (if they were aware of it) could be grateful.

Answer 3

Theoretically, Lincoln was not fully supportive of emancipation until halfway through the war. The goal of the Union was to maintain the Union, not free the slaves, and actually coming out against what the South desired would not have aided the North in reconciling with its counterpart.

Answer 4

Not so much angry. Just not convinced by the appeal of fighting a crusade against slavery.

It still didn't see to justify the terrible casualties.

Answer 5

they werent