jan 1, 1863 - Executive Order: The Emancipation Proclamation

Description:

On January 1, 1863, in the midst of the Civil War President Abraham Lincoln issued an executive order declaring "that all persons held as slaves...are, and henceforward shall be free" in those Confederate states rebelling against the Union. A common misconception is that this order freed all slaves, although this applied only to rebelling states as it was a wartime order, not those loyal to the Union and depended heavily on the victory of the Union. Even so, it shifted the purpose of the war to slavery and allowed for the escape of many enslaved people into the Union leading to significant African American military participation. Although this order did not free all enslaved people, it was the precursor to the 13th amendment (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

Added to timeline:

Date:

Images: