THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION

The Event

The Causes

The Document

The Response

The Effects

The first draft The first draft of the of the

Emancipation Emancipation ProclamationProclamation

July 22, 1862

September 22, 1862

THE EVENT

The Preliminary

Emancipation Proclamation

September 22, 1862

January 1, 1863

THE EVENT

Lincoln’s view on slavery

“That sight was a continual

torment to me.”1854

“I have always hated slavery, I

think as much as any Abolitionist.”

1858

“I think Slavery is wrong, morally, and politically.”

1859

… we must not interfere with the

institution of slavery in the

states where it exists, because the constitution

forbids it …(1859)

“The Union must be

preserved; and hence all

indispensable means must be

employed.”March, 1862

“Resolved that the United States ought to co-

operate with any state which may adopt gradual abolishment of slavery,

giving to such state pecuniary aid, to be used

by such state in it's discretion, to compensate

for the inconveniences public

and private, produced by such change of system''

If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it …

… and 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.

If my name ever goes into

history, it will be for this act, and my whole soul

is in it.

Reasons for Lincoln issuing the EP• Criticism from abolitionists• Changes in public opinion• Hurt the ability of the South to

survive• Try to get South to reconcile• Prevent Britain and France

from helping the Confederacy• Expand presidential power

(instead of Congress)• Antietam

THE CAUSES

ANTIETAM

Did Lincoln have the power to issue the EP?

Commander in ChiefLincoln thought that the military

could free them just like freeing the property of an enemy during war

Why didn't Lincoln free the slaves in the border states?

He didn’t have the authority

He didn’t want to lose their support

THE DOCUMENT

THE RESPONSEIN THE SOUTH – It’s opposed

•Southerners point to the EP as an example of Lincoln being a tyrant•Southerners won’t follow it, as they aren’t part of the Union (in their perspective)

THE IMPACT• Didn’t actually free anyone,

because it only applied to the states in rebellion

• Encouraged some slaves to run away from their owners/masters

• Britain and France more inclined to withhold recognition of the Confederacy

THE RESPONSEIN THE NORTH – It’s mixed

•Some felt it was the right thing to do•Some Abolitionists felt it didn’t go far enough•Many were upset that the war was now about slavery•Leads to some opposition of Lincoln

THE IMPACT• Upset some people in the North, who

were worried about labor competition, didn’t want to fight a war to free slaves

• Opposed entirely by the South, who used it to demonstrate the evils of Lincoln

• Led to African American troops in Union• Changed the cause of the war – now tied

to slavery