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On This Day: September 22nd - Abraham Lincoln Issues the Emancipation Proclamation

Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22nd 1862 which granted freedom to over three million black slaves in the United State of America. The Emancipation Proclamation also shifted the focus of the Civil War to slavery. Lincoln intended the war be about restoring the Union and really focus that much on the issue of slavery when the War began in 1861. Lincoln eased his way into the Emancipation Proclamation because of the overwhelming controversy over the issue. He wanted to make sure the Emancipation Proclamation could actually work in the United States before issuing it. The Proclamation exempted the border states where slave holding was practiced but still sustain loyalty towards the Union. Lincoln found the perfect time to announce the Emancipation Proclamation directly after the Union's major victor over the Confederacy at the Battle of Antietam.

On this day, Lincoln made the announcement that slaves who found themselves in areas of conflict and rebellion would be free in 100 days from September 22nd. It wasn't until January 1st of 1863 when Lincoln declared that all slaves. Lincoln used the Emancipation Proclamation to recruit former black slaves into the Union army by calling them into Union forces. Approximately180,000 African American served on the Union Army. The Emancipation Proclamation which was a presidential order from Lincoln eventually lead to the 13th amendment which banned slavery in the United States. This day was important historically for the United States because it was the conclusion to a long struggle to overcome social norms and practices of slavery in the United States. Although blacks were free from the chains of slavery after the Emancipation Proclamation, blacks would soon have to fight for their civil rights for years to come.

"Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation." 2008. The History Channel website. 15 Sep 2008, 04:05 http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=52865.