1863 : The Emancipation Proclamation takes effect
President Lincoln signs the final Emancipation Proclamation, which
ends slavery in the rebelling states. A preliminary proclamation was
issued in September, following the Union victory at the Battle of
Antietam, Maryland. The act signaled an important shift in the Union's
war aims, changing the goal of the war from reunification to the
eradication of slavery.
The proclamation freed all slaves in states that were still in
rebellion on January 1, 1863. Lincoln used vacated Congressional seats
to determine the areas still in rebellion, as some parts of the South
had already been recaptured and representatives returned to Congress
under Union supervision. Since it freed slaves only in rebellious
areas it
hence freed no one, since these were areas not yet under Union
control. The measure was still one of the most important acts in
American history, however, as it meant slavery would end when those
areas were recaptured. Most crucially, this measure effectively
sabotaged Confederate attempts to secure recognition by foreign
governments, especially Great Britain. When reunification was the goal
of the North, the Confederates could be viewed by foreigners as
freedom fighters being held against their will by the Union. But after
the Emancipation Proclamation, the southern cause was now the defense
of slavery. The proclamation was a shrewd maneuver by Lincoln to brand
the Confederate States as a slave nation and render foreign aid
impossible.
The measure was met by a good deal of opposition, as many northerners
were unwilling to fight for the freedom of blacks, but it spelled the
death knell for slavery and it had the effect on British opinion that
Lincoln desired. Britain, which was ideologically opposed to slavery,
could no longer recognize the Confederacy and goodwill towards the
Union forces swelled in Britain. With this measure, Lincoln
effectively isolated the Confederacy and killed the institution that
was the root of sectional differences.
On New Year's Day, the president greeted a large group of diplomats at
a White House reception. Shortly after noon, he slipped upstairs to
his office and signed the proclamation. "I never felt more certain,"
he commented, "that I was doing right, than I do in signing this
paper."
history.com/tdih.do
General Interest
1959 : Batista forced out by Castro-led revolution
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihVideoCategory&id=52297
1959 : NASA CREATED
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihVideoCategory&id=50469
45 BC: New Year's Day
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=6763
1803 : Haitian independence proclaimed
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4632
1863 : Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4633
1876 : First modern Mummers' Parade
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4634
#########################################
President Lincoln signs the final Emancipation Proclamation, which
ends slavery in the rebelling states. A preliminary proclamation was
issued in September, following the Union victory at the Battle of
Antietam, Maryland. The act signaled an important shift in the Union's
war aims, changing the goal of the war from reunification to the
eradication of slavery.
The proclamation freed all slaves in states that were still in
rebellion on January 1, 1863. Lincoln used vacated Congressional seats
to determine the areas still in rebellion, as some parts of the South
had already been recaptured and representatives returned to Congress
under Union supervision. Since it freed slaves only in rebellious
areas it
hence freed no one, since these were areas not yet under Union
control. The measure was still one of the most important acts in
American history, however, as it meant slavery would end when those
areas were recaptured. Most crucially, this measure effectively
sabotaged Confederate attempts to secure recognition by foreign
governments, especially Great Britain. When reunification was the goal
of the North, the Confederates could be viewed by foreigners as
freedom fighters being held against their will by the Union. But after
the Emancipation Proclamation, the southern cause was now the defense
of slavery. The proclamation was a shrewd maneuver by Lincoln to brand
the Confederate States as a slave nation and render foreign aid
impossible.
The measure was met by a good deal of opposition, as many northerners
were unwilling to fight for the freedom of blacks, but it spelled the
death knell for slavery and it had the effect on British opinion that
Lincoln desired. Britain, which was ideologically opposed to slavery,
could no longer recognize the Confederacy and goodwill towards the
Union forces swelled in Britain. With this measure, Lincoln
effectively isolated the Confederacy and killed the institution that
was the root of sectional differences.
On New Year's Day, the president greeted a large group of diplomats at
a White House reception. Shortly after noon, he slipped upstairs to
his office and signed the proclamation. "I never felt more certain,"
he commented, "that I was doing right, than I do in signing this
paper."
history.com/tdih.do
General Interest
1959 : Batista forced out by Castro-led revolution
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihVideoCategory&id=52297
1959 : NASA CREATED
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihVideoCategory&id=50469
45 BC: New Year's Day
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=6763
1803 : Haitian independence proclaimed
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4632
1863 : Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4633
1876 : First modern Mummers' Parade
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4634
#########################################
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