The Emancipation Proclamation

The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive Proclamation issued by the President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, on January 1, 1863. Many people have the misconception that the Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery in the United States. However, this was not accomplished until December 18, 1865 when the 13^th Amendment to the Constitution was passed.

The Emancipation Proclamation consisted of two separate orders. The first was issued by Lincoln on September 22, 1862. Basically, it was an ultimatum; if the rebels did not end the Civil War and rejoin the Union by January 1, 1863, then every slave in the Confederacy would be set free. On January 1, 1863 the second order was issued, which only applied to the Confederate states. This did not affect the Union slave states of Delaware, Maryland, Missouri, Kentucky or Tennessee which was under control of the Union Army. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation did not end slavery as soon as it was issued it changed the purpose of the Civil War from an effort to preserve the Union, into a war for freedom.

Reading of the First Draft of the Emancipation Proclamation before Lincoln's Cabinet

The Reconstruction was a twelve year period in which the United States was rebuilt after the chaos of the Civil War. The South had nearly been destroyed. Schools, homes, major city centers and businesses had all been destroyed. The railways were literally torn up from the ground. Food and important supplies were scarce and it was as though a government was not even in place. The purpose of the Reconstruction was to heal the open wounds of the nation. However, it ended up causing more divisiveness and quarrels. The physical battles were over, but there was still a struggle taking place in Washington, D.C. This disagreement was over whom should take charge of the Reconstruction policy: President Andrew Johnson, or Congress? Johnson was a southern Democrat and former slave owner who was in favor of a tolerant yet swift approach at reuniting the United States. His method offered absolutely no protection for the new black citizens. Congress wanted to set up military administrators to serve as an interim government in the South while waiting for the readmission of the states. Eventually, Congress won the battle.

Slowly but surely, the South’s agricultural economy recovered and even became more industrial. Governments became more open and public schools were established. There was great resistance to all of these efforts though, making the Reconstruction anything but smooth.