The Emancipation Proclamation: Who Truly Freed The Slaves?

The Emancipation Proclamation proposes a central question of “who truly freed the slaves?” in the 1860s. The question is a broad debate, posing many aspects and a variety of opinions. The common educated American might suggest that this was Abraham Lincoln’s doing, considering he was president at the time of action. But historians who look deeper into the situation to scope out other answers to the question, offering the idea that it was the slaves themselves, or even individual states. However, the war itself was the primary factor for setting the slaves free because without the Civil War, the “door to freedom would have remained closed” until another large uprising came about to put an end to slavery (131). In the years leading up to the

After Lincoln’s initial release of the Emancipation Proclamation back in September, these states ignored his threat and chose not return to the Union, so as a result, their slaves were freed. His order also allowed freed slaves to join the Union Army in the Civil War. This was a huge advantage to the Union because it added numbers to their army as well as heightened support from the north. Lincoln gained the confidence to order the official emancipation of the slaves after the Union victory in the Battle of Antietam. Lincoln strategically waited until after the Union victory because he wanted guaranteed assurance of support from the people. The Battle of Antietam was fought on September 17th, 1862, and Lincoln released the initial Proclamation five days later on September 22nd, 1862. He was very cautious to ensure that the Emancipation Proclamation abided by the Constitution. In his interpretation of lawfulness, he concluded that the Constitution gave him the power to issue the Proclamation as part of his executive powers as Commander-in-Chief of the army. He described the emancipation as a “military measure” only

Their contribution is often overlooked. Slaves led rebellions in the South, such as Nat Turner’s “bloody rebellion” in 1831 (4.). Free slaves in the north served in the Union Army, but only as “manual laborers” to build forts, cook meals, and aid wounded soldiers (79). The army was extremely reluctant to commission black officers; however, few African Americans earned this position. African American soldiers were discriminated against, but they continued to fight because their reputation was a reflection of their efforts. Over 200,000 African Americans served in the Union Military, which makes up a good percentage of the total military. African Americans also joined the Confederate Army. In most cases, slave owners would persuade their slaves to join with the promise of freedom after the war. It cannot be determined what the result of the war would have been if African Americans had not fought in the war, but it is apparent that they played a significant role in fighting the