What was the purpose of the Emancipation Proclamation?

The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, with the primary purpose of freeing enslaved individuals in those states that were in rebellion against the United States, specifically within the Confederate states. This executive order declared that all enslaved people in the Confederate-held territory were to be set free.

Although the proclamation did not immediately free all enslaved individuals, it marked a significant turning point in the Civil War by transforming the fight to preserve the nation into a battle for freedom. It allowed for the enlistment of African American soldiers into the Union Army, further bolstering the Union's efforts in the war.

While the Emancipation Proclamation did play a role in weakening the Confederacy's war efforts and was a critical step towards the abolition of slavery, it was not designed to end the Civil War outright or to address issues such as education or trade.