1862: Antietam and Emancipation

Antietam & Emancipation On your notes worksheet, answer the following question: What does “emancipation” mean?

Antietam & Emancipation Emancipation – The act of freeing

The War So Far

The Confederacy was hoping that Great Britain and France might help them in the war, giving the Confederacy an advantage.

The War So Far What was the war about? Preserving the Union or Freeing the Slaves?

Lincoln’s Problems Britain and France had begun to negotiate with the Confederacy Lincoln was harshly criticized for not freeing the slaves (Republicans/Abolitionists) Lacked the Constitutional authority to free the slaves Northerners felt slavery was helping the war effort in the south. He needed a Union victory so the announcement would not seem like an act of desperation

Antietam September 17, 1862

United States Colored Troops “If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it; if I could save it by freeing all the slaves, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that. What I do about slavery,...I do because I believe it helps to save the Union.”

Antietam Activity R ead the Battle of Antietam Summary. Fill in the flow map as a timeline for that battle.

Antietam

Emancipation

His first challenge was that the U.S. Constitution did not prohibit slavery. Individual states could outlaw slavery, but not the U.S. Government.

Emancipation Lincoln used his background as a lawyer to come up with a solution more or less based on the following questions that I would like you to answer:

Emancipation Question: What did slave owners legally consider their slaves to be?

Emancipation Answer: Slaves were considered to be property.

Emancipation Question: What happens to property that armies capture from their enemy during a war? Image courtesy Library of Congress

Emancipation Answer: The property captured (called contraband) belongs to the army that captured it and its government.

Emancipation Activity Look at your excerpt from the Emancipation Proclamation. Let’s read the second and sixth paragraph together. Image courtesy Library of Congress

"That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom. in the confederate states Jan The Union Government will support them

Image courtesy Library of Congress And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons. because of Already said Rebellion states From now on slaves

Emancipation The war was no longer just about preserving the union, it was also about freeing the slaves.

Since the war was now about freeing the slaves, the Europeans decided to not get involved with either the Union or the Confederacy.

Facts about the Emancipation Proclamation The Battle of Antietam provided the necessary Union victory to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. It did not free any slaves in Union states, it only freed slaves in rebel states Slaves were encouraged to runaway, destroying the Southern economy Britain and France were forced to stay out of the war Escaped slaves were allowed to join the Union army It changed the focus of the war.

United States Colored Troops

In the Emancipation Proclamation Lincoln addressed the enlistment of African Americans in the United States armed forces. Activity In paragraph #8 Lincoln discusses them being accepted into the military. Let’s read it together. Image courtesy Library of Congress

And I further declare and make known, that such persons of suitable condition, will be received into the armed service of the United States to garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said service. People physically capable man The military

United States Colored Troops

Activity Read the excerpt from General Order 143, which created the “United States Colored Troops” (USCT). Image courtesy National Archives

EXCERPT: I -- A Bureau is established in the Adjutant General's Office for the record of all matters relating to the organization of Colored Troops…. VI -- Colored troops may be accepted by companies, to be afterward consolidated in battalions and regiments by the Adjutant General. The regiments will be numbered seriatim, in the order in which they are raised, the numbers to be determined by the Adjutant General. They will be designated Regiment of U. S. Colored Troops." (U.S.C.T.) Government dept. Chief Administrative Officer of the army’s Brought together groups of soldiers decided named Chief Administrative Officer of the army

African Americans & the War By Spring 1863 black soldiers were fighting along side whites- the 54th Massachusetts infantry (“Glory”) became known for their bravery in battle.

United States Colored Troops Question: What do you think were some advantages for the United States in having African Americans serve in the military?

United States Colored Troops Answer: African Americans joined the United States military in large numbers. Which led to a larger army, one of the deciding factors in the United States defeating the Confederacy.

United States Colored Troops

Key items to remember from today’s lesson The “bloodiest” day in American history was the Battle of Antietam, Maryland.

Key items to remember from today’s lesson The Union “victory” at Antietam allowed President Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.

Key items to remember from today’s lesson Great Britain and France remained neutral and did not enter the war on the side of the Confederacy.

Key items to remember from today’s lesson The Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves in the Confederate States (Eventually all states would free their slaves)

Key items to remember from today’s lesson With African Americans joining the armed forces, the United States had a greater advantage over the Confederate States because of its number of soldiers and sailors.

Effects of the Emancipation Proclamation for Slaves More slaves escaped to the north

Effects of the Emancipation Proclamation for Slaves African Americans in the north celebrated

Effects of the Emancipation Proclamation for Slaves Britain and France decided to withdraw their support and recognition of the Confederacy

Effects of the Emancipation Proclamation for Slaves African Americans in the north celebrated

How did Harriet Tubman help the north? Spying on the confederates

How did Harriet Tubman help the north? Assisting in the escape of hundreds of slaves

How were African American soldiers treated differently than white soldiers? They were paid less They were not given the supplies needed initially Initially used for manual labor They had to serve under white officers