LAD 16- Emancipation Proclamation

Emancipation Proclamation

It was easy to say that one of Lincoln's defining moments as presidant involved the Emancipation Proclamation. This statement was made in light of all of the slaves which had been freed and therefore escaped up to the North. This started as a very small number originally but as Union armies advanced the amounts of these freed man increased and eventually the document was extended to make slavery illegal in all but Maryland, Delaware, Missouri and Kentucky. The territories which would eventually become West Virginia were also included as those to be exempt. This statement was meant as a way to inceit slaves in the confederacy to come to the North and join with the Northern forces. However as the South already had decided that it didnt obey Northern laws, it wasnt about to obey this one. Despite this it was a huge moral step forward and then eventually led to the passing of the thirteenth amendment which outlawed slavery in all territories across the country. It is also important to note that Lincoln did not put the proclamation through Congress but rather passed it himself using his war empowered presidancy.