Pgs

Northern Plans As the fighting dragged on into 1862, Northern war plans began working. The blockade stopped trade in the South. Plantations and businesses were crippled and in some cases destroyed. Even so, the North had not won the war!

No End in Sight Thousands of Union soldiers were dying in battle. President Lincoln knew he had to find a way to push the North to victory. The purpose of the war was to keep the country together. Lincoln knew that slavery was the issue that divided the country, and this was the issue that must be addressed.

Ending Slavery After a year of war, the president knew he had to free the slaves in the South. Lincoln debated writing an order to free the slaves. The loss of millions of enslaved workers would be a blow to the South. Lincoln knew freeing the slaves could help the North. He hoped former slaves might join the Union army.

Lincoln Worries Lincoln’s order freed slaves in the Confederate states. The states where Lincoln had no authority. He feared the border states which permitted slavery but remained loyal to the Union might secede. He especially worried that Maryland might leave the Union. If this happened, Washington would be inside enemy territory.

July 1862 On July 22, Lincoln called a meeting of his Cabinet and told them of his plan to write an order to free the slaves. He warned them that he would listen to no arguments. He read to them the first draft of the Emancipation Proclamation. No one present dared to speak against it.

A Voice Speaks Secretary of State Seward expressed a concern, “With the war going so badly for the North, wouldn’t it be better to wait until we win a battle?” For the next two months, the emancipation was the best kept secret in America. On Sept. 17, 1862, Union troops gave Lincoln a victory at the Battle of Antietam in Maryland. Five days later President Lincoln announced his plans to free the slaves.

Not So Well Received The Emancipation Proclamation was bitterly attacked. Union soldiers began deserting in greater numbers. Newspapers warned it would set off riots. Lincoln did not back down. On January 1, 1863, he signed the proclamation.

What is Emancipation? Emancipation is freeing someone from the control of another. A proclamation is a written order. The Emancipation Proclamation was a written order from President Lincoln freeing slaves in the South from their owners.

"I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States of America, and Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, do hereby proclaim and declare 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 shall be then, and forever free.”