Who issued the Emancipation Proclamation?

The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War. This landmark executive order declared the freedom of all enslaved people in the states that were in rebellion against the Union. Lincoln's aim was not only to weaken the Confederacy but also to redefine the purpose of the war, transforming it into a struggle for freedom. The proclamation also allowed for the enlistment of African American soldiers in the Union Army, which significantly bolstered Union forces.

Lincoln's decision to issue the proclamation was a pivotal moment in American history, as it set a moral compass for the nation, signaling a commitment to the principle of equality and the eventual abolition of slavery in the United States. The impact of the Emancipation Proclamation laid the groundwork for the Thirteenth Amendment, which formally abolished slavery.