1. Mrs. Enright
Chapter 17 Section 1
The Emancipation Proclamation

2. North Demands Action
Abolitionists, like Frederick Douglass, still continued to persuade Lincoln to emancipate slavery
Americans were pressuring their President to act and stop the war
While more and more enslaved people were escaping from the South, it was clear that this was an opportunity to finally end slavery
Even with all of the North’s arguments, Lincoln was still tentative to act

3. Lincoln’s Difficult Decision
Abraham Lincoln hesitated for many noble reasons
He felt that he did not have the Constitutional right or power to completely abolish slavery from slave-holding states
Did not want to disturb the four slave border states
Mainly, though, he wanted to preserve the Union and feared that emancipation might disrupt this
“If I could save the Union without freeing any slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would do that also.”

4. Final Decision
In spite of wanted the war to end, Lincoln gave into emancipation in the summer of 1862
However, he did not want to jump into choice right away
He waited until the war was in the Union’s favor
That time came after General Lee surrendered at the Battle of Antietam

5. The Emancipation Proclamation
On January 1, 1863, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation to free all of the current slaves
However, this was not very affective because it only applied to the states that were under the North’s control
Lincoln only freed slaves in the South because, commander in chief, it could be seen as a military action
The conflict now had a moral purpose and become a war of liberation

6. Response to the Proclamation
Abolitionists and other people in support of emancipation were thrilled
However they were still dissatisfied that not all slaves were freed
Northern Democrats were thoroughly angered not only for themselves but also for the South and that it would only prolong—or lengthen, the war

7. Response to the Proclamation
A newspaper carrier stated that the proclamation was “monstrous, impudent, and heinous.”
South was enraged by the proclamation because many of their slaves attempted to escape their plantations
Although these slaves deprived the South of power, they went straight into the Union army

8. African American Soldiers
Along with freeing slaves in the Emancipation Proclamation, it allows African Americans to fight in the Union Army
Strengthened the union army “by a mile”
Even at the beginning of the war, Douglass felt that joined the war should earn you full citizenship
180,000 Afro-Americans joined in total, and 166 regiments were formed

9. Despite discrimination and lower pay, African Americans fought with loyalty and courage in the Union army
Some regiments wanted these men to fight without pay
These men wanted to abolish slavery, earn self-respect, and show that they were equal
Recognized for their bravery

10. The 54th Massachusetts Volunteers
One of the first African American Union regiments, and the most famous
In July of 1863, it led a victorious attack on Fort Wagner
The Confederate government threatened to execute or enslave any captured African Americans
It was very clear to both the Union and Confederacy that the war was dramatically changing

11. Works Cited
"Emancipation Proclamation - Ohio History Central - A Product of the Ohio Historical Society." Ohio History Central - An Online Encyclopedia of Ohio History - Ohio Historical Society. Web. 27 Sept <
Our Family Tree, Consisting, At, Present, of 166 Generations. Web. 27 Sept <
Slackman, By Michael. "Wednesday Open Thread." Jack & Jill Politics. Web. 27 Sept < thread-67/>.

12. Questions?