The Emancipation Proclamation was a critical part of President Lincoln's term in office. Although it is one of the most important documents in United States history, it is also, quite possibly, the most misunderstood. Its text explains key terms surrounding the Civil War, the importance of slavery to the war effort on both sides, Lincoln's efforts to regain the support of the rebellious states, the role of African American soldiers in the civil war, and America's place in the world wide progression to end slavery.
Lincoln was determined to mark his name into history when signing the Emancipation Proclamation. While it stated that all slaves in the rebellion states were freed, the document was not accepted into the Confederacy, and did not instantly free any slaves at all.
The Proclamation's focal point was based on territory still owned by the Confederacy, and it made it much harder for the entire slave population to be completely freed. The Proclamation also supported the recruitment of African American soldiers, who made an important impact to the Union war battle. The proclamation would only apply to the Confederate States, as an act to seize enemy resources. Although it was one of the more controversial aspects of the Proclamation. African men, who were fighting for their own deliverance, had redoubled their efforts to join the army. The army eventually accepted them, but had made it clear that it was a "white man's war"." The Civil War was not being fought between the North and the South to end slavery. Even over a year into the war, the North did not make abolishing slavery a key objective. Despite a vocal Abolitionist movement in the North, many soldiers, in particular, opposed slavery, but did not favor emancipation. They expected slavery to die on its own over time.
Secession was the act by which a state left the Union. The Secession Crisis of late 1860 and early 1861 led to the American Civil War when southern states seceded from the Union and declared themselves a separate nation.
