The Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was an announcement made by President Lincoln on January 4, 1863. The main point of The Emancipation Proclamation was to free the slaves in all of the rebellious states. Because of The Emancipation Proclamation over 4,000,000 slaves were freed. President Lincoln once said “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.” (Abraham Lincoln) This quote says that all slaves shall be freed and everybody must accept that. The Emancipation Proclamation did not completely abolish slavery until 1865 when the 13th Amendment of the Constitution was ratified. The first part of the 13th Amendment states neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. The second part of the 13th Amendment states that Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. The Emancipation Proclamation was a turning point in history because it freed many enslaved people who could otherwise be contributing to the better of the country.