Emancipation Proclamation, September 22, 1863

While Lincoln is known for many things, such as guiding the nation through four years of war, the Gettysburg Address, and the famous debates with Stephen Douglas, perhaps his most crowning achievement was the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation.

At the beginning of the war Lincoln had one singular goal: to preserve the Union. Slavery was a secondary issue, with the President fearing that some or all of the border states (Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, and Missouri) may also secede if he made any move to free slaves.

In July, 1862 Lincoln proposed to his cabinet that all slaves in the rebellious states be set free. Secretary of State William Seward convinced him to wait until a better time. The Union had been taking a beating at the hands of the Confederacy, and Seward reasoned that changing the thrust of the Union's goals from preservation of the Union to freeing slaves would have little impact.

Lincoln writing the Emancipation Proclamation

The Emancipation Proclamation had limitations, to be sure. It only freed slaves in the rebellious states, and even exempted those parts of the Confederacy which were already under Union control. Perhaps most importantly, unless the Union won the war,the proclamation would be worthless. It had immediate impact politically, however. The war was now about freeing slaves, transforming the entire focus. Countries such as England and France, considering aiding the Confederacy, now took a second look. Rejoining the Union was one thing, but now the war had a moral tone. Without the assistance of the European powers, the Confederacy was doomed to carrying on the battle alone.

The Emancipation Proclamation also declared that " . . . persons of suitable condition, will be received into the armed service of the United States . . . " Nearly 200,000 black soldiers and sailors would fight for the Union before the war was over, with several being awarded the Medal of Honor.

For many years the Emancipation Proclamation was kept bound into a large volume with other proclamations and maintained by the Department of State. At some point the number 95, signifying the number of the proclamation, was written on the top right corner in red ink.

The original of the Emancipation Proclamation, consisting of five pages tied together with red and blue ribbons, is now housed in the National Archives, having been transferred from the Department of State in 1936. The pages are fragile, the ink fading. The condition is so delicate that it is only placed on public display on special occasions. Despite its condition, the Emancipation Proclamation occupies a lofty position among the greatest documents in history.

The Emancipation Statue in Washington, DC

Following is the full text of the Emancipation Proclamation.

By the President of the United States of America:

A Proclamation.

Whereas, on the twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing, among other things, the following, to wit:

"That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.

"That the Executive will, on the first day of January aforesaid, by proclamation, designate the States and parts of States, if any, in which the people thereof, respectively, shall then be in rebellion against the United States; and the fact that any State, or the people thereof, shall on that day be, in good faith, represented in the Congress of the United States by members chosen thereto at elections wherein a majority of the qualified voters of such State shall have participated, shall, in the absence of strong countervailing testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such State, and the people thereof, are not then in rebellion against the United States."

The Proclamation

Now, therefore I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested as Commander-in-Chief, of the Army and Navy of the United States in time of actual armed rebellion against the authority and government of the United States, and as a fit and necessary war measure for suppressing said rebellion, do, on this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and in accordance with my purpose so to do publicly proclaimed for the full period of one hundred days, from the day first above mentioned, order and designate as the States and parts of States wherein the people thereof respectively, are this day in rebellion against the United States, the following, to wit:

Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, (except the Parishes of St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, St. John, St. Charles, St. James Ascension, Assumption, Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Mary, St. Martin, and Orleans, including the City of New Orleans) Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, (except the forty-eight counties designated as West Virginia, and also the counties of Berkley, Accomac, Northampton, Elizabeth City, York, Princess Ann, and Norfolk, including the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth), and which excepted parts, are for the present, left precisely as if this proclamation were not issued.

And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.

And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free to abstain from all violence, unless in necessary self-defence; and I recommend to them that, in all cases when allowed, they labor faithfully for reasonable wages.

And I further declare and make known, that such persons of suitable condition, will be received into the armed service of the United States to garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said service.

And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind, and the gracious favor of Almighty God.

Well Known Proclamations