September 22nd, 1862. President Lincoln wanted to take immediate advantage of the Union victory at Antietam and issued a preliminary draft of the Proclamation five days afterward. The Emancipation Proclamation was issued in full on January 1st, 1863.

September 22nd, 1862. President Lincoln wanted to take immediate advantage of the Union victory at Antietam and issued a preliminary draft of the Proclamation five days afterward. The Emancipation Proclamation was issued in full on January 1st, 1863.

September 22nd, 1862. President Lincoln wanted to take immediate advantage of the Union victory at Antietam and issued a preliminary draft of the Proclamation five days afterward. The Emancipation Proclamation was issued in full on January 1st, 1863.

An executive order.  President Lincoln used his power as commander-in-chief of the military as grounds for the Proclamation.  Its tenets have since been sustained by Congress, the courts, and constitutional conventions.

An executive order.  President Lincoln used his power as commander-in-chief of the military as grounds for the Proclamation.  Its tenets have since been sustained by Congress, the courts, and constitutional conventions.

An executive order.  President Lincoln used his power as commander-in-chief of the military as grounds for the Proclamation.  Its tenets have since been sustained by Congress, the courts, and constitutional conventions.

One hundred days.  On January 1st, one hundred days after the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, President Lincoln issued what we know today as the Emancipation Proclamation.  From that day, slaves located in the states that were in rebellion were declared “forever free.”

One hundred days.  On January 1st, one hundred days after the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, President Lincoln issued what we know today as the Emancipation Proclamation.  From that day, slaves located in the states that were in rebellion were declared “forever free.”

One hundred days.  On January 1st, one hundred days after the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, President Lincoln issued what we know today as the Emancipation Proclamation.  From that day, slaves located in the states that were in rebellion were declared “forever free.”

Antietam. Although President Lincoln had decided to issue the Proclamation earlier in the summer, his cabinet urged him to wait for a Union victory.  Otherwise, they argued, it would look like an act of desperation.

Antietam. Although President Lincoln had decided to issue the Proclamation earlier in the summer, his cabinet urged him to wait for a Union victory.  Otherwise, they argued, it would look like an act of desperation.

Antietam. Although President Lincoln had decided to issue the Proclamation earlier in the summer, his cabinet urged him to wait for a Union victory.  Otherwise, they argued, it would look like an act of desperation.

Only the states in rebellion.  In some ways the Proclamation was an extension of earlier pieces of federal legislation.  Those acts allowed for the confiscation of property, including slaves, from the estates of those in rebellion against the federal government. 

Only the states in rebellion.  In some ways the Proclamation was an extension of earlier pieces of federal legislation.  Those acts allowed for the confiscation of property, including slaves, from the estates of those in rebellion against the federal government. 

Only the states in rebellion.  In some ways the Proclamation was an extension of earlier pieces of federal legislation.  Those acts allowed for the confiscation of property, including slaves, from the estates of those in rebellion against the federal government. 

Great Britain.  A consistent flow of cheap cotton from a divided America was attractive to many British politicians.  However, Confederate support for slavery was an unpleasant stumbling block for Great Britain, which had abolished the practice thirty years before.  The Emancipation Proclamation highlighted the issue of slavery to such an extent that intervention was rendered politically impossible.

Great Britain.  A consistent flow of cheap cotton from a divided America was attractive to many British politicians.  However, Confederate support for slavery was an unpleasant stumbling block for Great Britain, which had abolished the practice thirty years before.  The Emancipation Proclamation highlighted the issue of slavery to such an extent that intervention was rendered politically impossible.

Great Britain.  A consistent flow of cheap cotton from a divided America was attractive to many British politicians.  However, Confederate support for slavery was an unpleasant stumbling block for Great Britain, which had abolished the practice thirty years before.  The Emancipation Proclamation highlighted the issue of slavery to such an extent that intervention was rendered politically impossible.

The Second Confiscation Act. This act, passed on July 17, 1862, threatened to free the slaves of any person still in rebellion against the United States sixty days after the law’s passage, provided that the person’s property had fallen back under federal control.  President Lincoln opposed this act because he thought it would be unpopular in the border states.

The Second Confiscation Act. This act, passed on July 17, 1862, threatened to free the slaves of any person still in rebellion against the United States sixty days after the law’s passage, provided that the person’s property had fallen back under federal control.  President Lincoln opposed this act because he thought it would be unpopular in the border states.

The Second Confiscation Act. This act, passed on July 17, 1862, threatened to free the slaves of any person still in rebellion against the United States sixty days after the law’s passage, provided that the person’s property had fallen back under federal control.  President Lincoln opposed this act because he thought it would be unpopular in the border states.

Secretary of State William Seward. Seward was a fervent abolitionist and activist for prison and public health reform.  In 1850, while serving in the Senate, Seward proclaimed that “there is a higher law than the Constitution.”

Secretary of State William Seward. Seward was a fervent abolitionist and activist for prison and public health reform.  In 1850, while serving in the Senate, Seward proclaimed that “there is a higher law than the Constitution.”

Secretary of State William Seward. Seward was a fervent abolitionist and activist for prison and public health reform.  In 1850, while serving in the Senate, Seward proclaimed that “there is a higher law than the Constitution.”

It burned in the Chicago Fire.  President Lincoln was reluctant to part with his original draft, but he allowed it to be auctioned.  The patron paid $3,000 for the manuscript and donated it to the Chicago Soldiers’ Home.  During the fire of 1871 the manuscript was attached too firmly to the wall and was unable to be saved.

It burned in the Chicago Fire.  President Lincoln was reluctant to part with his original draft, but he allowed it to be auctioned.  The patron paid $3,000 for the manuscript and donated it to the Chicago Soldiers’ Home.  During the fire of 1871 the manuscript was attached too firmly to the wall and was unable to be saved.

It burned in the Chicago Fire.  President Lincoln was reluctant to part with his original draft, but he allowed it to be auctioned.  The patron paid $3,000 for the manuscript and donated it to the Chicago Soldiers’ Home.  During the fire of 1871 the manuscript was attached too firmly to the wall and was unable to be saved.

Thaddeus Stevens.  Chairman of the House Committee of Ways and Means, Stevens was a key player in the Radical Republican party.  When he died in 1868, he left $50,000 for the establishment of a school for homeless orphans of all colors and backgrounds.

Thaddeus Stevens.  Chairman of the House Committee of Ways and Means, Stevens was a key player in the Radical Republican party.  When he died in 1868, he left $50,000 for the establishment of a school for homeless orphans of all colors and backgrounds.

Thaddeus Stevens.  Chairman of the House Committee of Ways and Means, Stevens was a key player in the Radical Republican party.  When he died in 1868, he left $50,000 for the establishment of a school for homeless orphans of all colors and backgrounds.

George McClellan.  McClellan harbored his own presidential ambitions and was not fond of President Lincoln, whom he once referred to as a “gorilla.”  He was soundly defeated by President Lincoln, 212 electoral votes to 12, in the election of 1864.

George McClellan.  McClellan harbored his own presidential ambitions and was not fond of President Lincoln, whom he once referred to as a “gorilla.”  He was soundly defeated by President Lincoln, 212 electoral votes to 12, in the election of 1864.

George McClellan.  McClellan harbored his own presidential ambitions and was not fond of President Lincoln, whom he once referred to as a “gorilla.”  He was soundly defeated by President Lincoln, 212 electoral votes to 12, in the election of 1864.

The Executive government of the United States.  Assigning a federal branch to sustain the promise of the Proclamation was a decision that could have a significant impact on the efficacy of its execution.  By shouldering the burden himself through the office of the executive branch, President Lincoln was taking direct responsibility for its success or failure.

The Executive government of the United States.  Assigning a federal branch to sustain the promise of the Proclamation was a decision that could have a significant impact on the efficacy of its execution.  By shouldering the burden himself through the office of the executive branch, President Lincoln was taking direct responsibility for its success or failure.

The Executive government of the United States.  Assigning a federal branch to sustain the promise of the Proclamation was a decision that could have a significant impact on the efficacy of its execution.  By shouldering the burden himself through the office of the executive branch, President Lincoln was taking direct responsibility for its success or failure.

William Lloyd Garrison. Garrison was one of the fieriest abolitionists in the nation. In his later years he turned to the issue of women’s suffrage. In his first editorial for The Liberator he wrote, “I am in earnest – I will not equivocate – I will not excuse – I will not retreat a single inch – AND I WILL BE HEARD.”

William Lloyd Garrison. Garrison was one of the fieriest abolitionists in the nation. In his later years he turned to the issue of women’s suffrage. In his first editorial for The Liberator he wrote, “I am in earnest – I will not equivocate – I will not excuse – I will not retreat a single inch – AND I WILL BE HEARD.”

William Lloyd Garrison. Garrison was one of the fieriest abolitionists in the nation. In his later years he turned to the issue of women’s suffrage. In his first editorial for The Liberator he wrote, “I am in earnest – I will not equivocate – I will not excuse – I will not retreat a single inch – AND I WILL BE HEARD.”

The armed services of the United States.  Black soldiers saw service in every branch of the military following the formal establishment of the Bureau of Colored Troops on May 22, 1863.  They made up nearly 10% of the Union army by the time the war was over. 

The armed services of the United States.  Black soldiers saw service in every branch of the military following the formal establishment of the Bureau of Colored Troops on May 22, 1863.  They made up nearly 10% of the Union army by the time the war was over. 

The armed services of the United States.  Black soldiers saw service in every branch of the military following the formal establishment of the Bureau of Colored Troops on May 22, 1863.  They made up nearly 10% of the Union army by the time the war was over. 

The 13th Amendment.   The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments are known as the “Reconstruction Amendments.”  They abolish slavery, establish equal protection, and grant suffrage, respectively. 

The 13th Amendment.   The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments are known as the “Reconstruction Amendments.”  They abolish slavery, establish equal protection, and grant suffrage, respectively. 

The 13th Amendment.   The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments are known as the “Reconstruction Amendments.”  They abolish slavery, establish equal protection, and grant suffrage, respectively.