The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War. The proclamation declared that "all persons held as slaves" within the ten Confederate states in rebellion were, and of right ought to be, free. The proclamation did not apply to slaves in the loyal border states, nor did it free slaves in Confederate-held territory in the South that was under Union control, such as New Orleans.
The Emancipation Proclamation was a significant turning point in the American Civil War. It transformed the war from one of preserving the Union into one of fighting for the abolition of slavery. The proclamation also had a profound impact on the lives of African Americans in the United States. It gave them hope for freedom and helped to inspire the abolitionist movement.
The Emancipation Proclamation was a major victory for the Union and a significant step towards the abolition of slavery in the United States. It is considered one of the most important documents in American history.