The The Emancipation Emancipation Proclamation--Proclamation--

18631863

Lincoln’s CriticsLincoln’s Critics• Copperheads were attacking Copperheads were attacking

Lincoln for the warLincoln for the war• Abolitionists attacked him for not Abolitionists attacked him for not

making this a war to end slaverymaking this a war to end slavery• As the number of deaths mounted, As the number of deaths mounted,

northern leaders began to northern leaders began to question if this was worth saving question if this was worth saving the union.the union.

Lincoln and SlaveryLincoln and Slavery•As we know Lincoln did not As we know Lincoln did not

intend to end slavery in the intend to end slavery in the southsouth

•He did oppose it but…He did oppose it but…•Didn’t feel he had the Didn’t feel he had the

constitutional right to do soconstitutional right to do so•His main goal was to maintain His main goal was to maintain

and protect the unionand protect the union

Slavery: Lincoln’s DilemmaSlavery: Lincoln’s Dilemma

““My paramount object in this struggle is to My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, and the do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forbear, I to save the Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union.” – Abraham help to save the Union.” – Abraham Lincoln, in a letter to Horace Greeley Lincoln, in a letter to Horace Greeley August 22, 1862August 22, 1862

· The Civil War began as a war to restore the Union, · The Civil War began as a war to restore the Union, NOTNOT to end slavery. to end slavery.

Lincoln and Slavery cont.Lincoln and Slavery cont.• ““My paramount object in this struggle is My paramount object in this struggle is

to save the Union, and is not to either to save the Union, and is not to either save or to destroy slavery. If I could save save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it, and if I could save the Union would do it, and if I could save the Union by freeing all the slaves, I would do it; by freeing all the slaves, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do leaving others alone, I would also do that.”that.”

• — — President LincolnPresident Lincoln

Lincoln and SlaveryLincoln and Slavery•Lincoln was also very worried Lincoln was also very worried

about the border statesabout the border states• If made this war a war to end If made this war a war to end

slavery then he would lose the slavery then he would lose the border states to the Confederacyborder states to the Confederacy

•Lincoln did also understand how Lincoln did also understand how slavery helped the south DURING slavery helped the south DURING THE WARTHE WAR

· Therefore, Lincoln decided to free enslaved African Americans in the · Therefore, Lincoln decided to free enslaved African Americans in the Confederate states only.Confederate states only.

· Lincoln was afraid that if he ended slavery, it would anger the four · Lincoln was afraid that if he ended slavery, it would anger the four proslavery states in the Union. (DE, MD, KY, and MO)proslavery states in the Union. (DE, MD, KY, and MO)

Union Slave States

Ending slavery to Win Ending slavery to Win the War the War

•Every slave working in a field or Every slave working in a field or in a factory freed a white in a factory freed a white Southerner to shoot at Union Southerner to shoot at Union soldiers. soldiers.

•Gradually, Lincoln came to regard Gradually, Lincoln came to regard ending slavery as one more ending slavery as one more strategy for winning the war.strategy for winning the war.

The Emancipation ProclamationThe Emancipation Proclamation• Attitudes about the war changed with increased casualtiesAttitudes about the war changed with increased casualties

– No longer about just saving the Union, the South needed to be punished No longer about just saving the Union, the South needed to be punished for the bloodshed of the war.for the bloodshed of the war.

– Lincoln convinced to use constitutional power to end slavery, denying the Lincoln convinced to use constitutional power to end slavery, denying the South the labor needed to continue the war South the labor needed to continue the war

• Emancipation Proclamation issued on January 1, 1863Emancipation Proclamation issued on January 1, 1863– It freed the slaves in all areas in rebellion against the U.S.It freed the slaves in all areas in rebellion against the U.S.– Abolitionists were upset slavery continued in the Union.Abolitionists were upset slavery continued in the Union.– Riots broke out with increased competition for jobs in the North. Riots broke out with increased competition for jobs in the North. – Supporters felt it would shorten the war.Supporters felt it would shorten the war.

• Overseas reactionOverseas reaction– The British felt Lincoln should have freed all of the slaves.The British felt Lincoln should have freed all of the slaves.– With war now about ending slavery, Britain would side with the Union. With war now about ending slavery, Britain would side with the Union.

African Americans and the WarAfrican Americans and the WarIn the South, African American farm and plantation labor In the South, African American farm and plantation labor released white males for the war effort. Slaves performed released white males for the war effort. Slaves performed many non-combat jobs in the Confederate army.many non-combat jobs in the Confederate army.

Escaped slaves for the Union army in various jobs.Escaped slaves for the Union army in various jobs.They formed Unworked ion army regiments in Louisiana, They formed Unworked ion army regiments in Louisiana, South Carolina, and Kansas, serving in segregated units. South Carolina, and Kansas, serving in segregated units. Initially used for labor and guard duty, when allowed into Initially used for labor and guard duty, when allowed into battle they fought heroically. battle they fought heroically. The 54The 54thth Massachusetts Infantry was the most famous unit Massachusetts Infantry was the most famous unit.

180,000 African Americans served in Union armies, taking 180,000 African Americans served in Union armies, taking part in 200 battles. More than 38,00 died serving the Union.part in 200 battles. More than 38,00 died serving the Union.

The EmancipationThe Emancipation• Lincoln did need a Union Lincoln did need a Union

victory to issue his victory to issue his Emancipation ProclamationEmancipation Proclamation

• The victory at Antietam was The victory at Antietam was the victory he neededthe victory he needed

• In the fall of 1862, as Lee In the fall of 1862, as Lee retreated south from Antietam, retreated south from Antietam, Lincoln proclaimed that on Lincoln proclaimed that on January 1, 1863, slaves in January 1, 1863, slaves in areas of rebellion against the areas of rebellion against the government would be free. government would be free.

• Then, on New Year's Day, Then, on New Year's Day, 1863, he issued the final 1863, he issued the final Emancipation ProclamationEmancipation Proclamation

• ““I, Abraham Lincoln, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United President of the United States, by virtue of the States, by virtue of the power in me vested as power in me vested as Commander-in-Chief, of Commander-in-Chief, of the Army and Navy of the the Army and Navy of the United States in time of United States in time of actual armed rebellion actual armed rebellion against the authority and against the authority and government of the United government of the United States, and as a fit and States, and as a fit and necessary war measure necessary war measure for suppressing said for suppressing said rebellion … do order and rebellion … do order and declare that all persons declare that all persons held as slaves within said held as slaves within said designated States, and designated States, and parts of States, are and parts of States, are and henceforward shall be henceforward shall be free….” free….”

• --What exactly does this --What exactly does this mean???mean???

- end slavery - end slavery in all in all Confederate Confederate statesstates

Emancipation Proclamation Emancipation Proclamation (Emancipate – to set free)(Emancipate – to set free)· On January 1, 1863, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.· On January 1, 1863, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

““On the 1st day of January, in the year of our Lord 1863, all persons held On the 1st day of January, in the year of our Lord 1863, all persons held as slaves within any state or…part of a state (whose) people…shall then be as slaves within any state or…part of a state (whose) people…shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.”forever free.”

· Now the · Now the Union hadUnion had two two goals:goals:

- restore the - restore the UnionUnion

First Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation of President Lincoln by Francis Bicknell Carpenter

Impact of the Impact of the ProclamationProclamation

• This actually had little This actually had little impact on freeing impact on freeing slavesslaves

• The E.P. did not affect The E.P. did not affect the border statesthe border states

• Slaves were not free Slaves were not free in the border statesin the border states

• Lincoln could not Lincoln could not afford to lose their afford to lose their loyaltyloyalty

• Some abolitionists Some abolitionists criticized this criticized this because it did not go because it did not go far enough to ending far enough to ending slavery.slavery.

How would you feel about the Emancipation How would you feel about the Emancipation Proclamation if you were…Proclamation if you were…

(1) a slave owner from Texas?(1) a slave owner from Texas?

(2) a slave owner from Missouri?(2) a slave owner from Missouri?

(3) an abolitionist from Massachusetts?(3) an abolitionist from Massachusetts?

(4) a slave from Georgia?(4) a slave from Georgia?

(6) Abraham Lincoln?(6) Abraham Lincoln?

(5) a slave from Maryland?(5) a slave from Maryland?

How would you feel about the Emancipation Proclamation if you How would you feel about the Emancipation Proclamation if you were…were…

““The slaves are free? Not in my state their not. Abraham Lincoln isn’t The slaves are free? Not in my state their not. Abraham Lincoln isn’t my President anymore, so I don’t have to listen to the Emancipation my President anymore, so I don’t have to listen to the Emancipation Proclamation. I only have to free my slaves if the Confederates lose Proclamation. I only have to free my slaves if the Confederates lose the war.”the war.”

(1) a slave owner from Texas?(1) a slave owner from Texas?

(2) a slave owner from Missouri?(2) a slave owner from Missouri?

(3) an abolitionist from Massachusetts?(3) an abolitionist from Massachusetts?

““I knew it was a good idea for us to stay in the Union! I get to keep I knew it was a good idea for us to stay in the Union! I get to keep my slaves, just like the slave owners in Kentucky, Maryland, and my slaves, just like the slave owners in Kentucky, Maryland, and Delaware get to keep theirs.”Delaware get to keep theirs.”

““Hmmm…the Emancipation Proclamation is a good start, but it Hmmm…the Emancipation Proclamation is a good start, but it doesn’t go far enough. Slavery should be ended in doesn’t go far enough. Slavery should be ended in allall the states, not the states, not only the one’s in rebellion against the Union!”only the one’s in rebellion against the Union!”

How would you feel about the Emancipation Proclamation if you How would you feel about the Emancipation Proclamation if you were…were…

(5) a slave from Maryland?(5) a slave from Maryland?

““Man, this stinks. How come the slaves from most of the other Man, this stinks. How come the slaves from most of the other states were freed but I have to remain a slave?”states were freed but I have to remain a slave?”

(6) Abraham Lincoln?(6) Abraham Lincoln?

““I wish that I could free the slaves in all of the states immediately. I wish that I could free the slaves in all of the states immediately. However, if I free the slaves in the border states, they may switch to However, if I free the slaves in the border states, they may switch to the Confederacy, and I can’t allow that to happen. Anyway, nobody the Confederacy, and I can’t allow that to happen. Anyway, nobody is really free until we’re able to defeat those Confederate rebels!”is really free until we’re able to defeat those Confederate rebels!”

(4) a slave from Georgia?(4) a slave from Georgia?

““Sweet, I’m free!! Wait a minute, no I’m not. I have to stay a slave Sweet, I’m free!! Wait a minute, no I’m not. I have to stay a slave until the Union wins the war!”until the Union wins the war!”

European ReactionEuropean Reaction• Perhaps the most significant reaction Perhaps the most significant reaction

occurred in Europe. occurred in Europe. • The abolition movement was strong in The abolition movement was strong in

England. England. • The Emancipation Proclamation, The Emancipation Proclamation,

coupled with news of Lee's defeat at coupled with news of Lee's defeat at Antietam, ended any real chance that Antietam, ended any real chance that France and Great Britain would France and Great Britain would intervene in the war.intervene in the war.