The Emancipation of the Slaves

1
The Emancipation of the Slaves

• 1861-1865

2
Views on Slavery

• 1861- neither the North or the South initially
  declared the Civil War to be a war about slavery
• Lincoln as a presidential candidate- argued for
  gradual emancipation,compensation to slave
  holders for liberated slaves and the colonization
  of freed slaves somewhere outside the
  U.S.,perhaps in Africa

3
Lincoln and Congress

• After the South left Congress, Lincoln was faced
  with a legislature that was more progressive in
  its thoughts about slavery than he was
• Radical Republicans wanted immediate emancipation
  of the slaves

4
The Confiscation Acts

• Introduced by the Radical Republicans
• 1861-gave the U.S. government the right to seize
  any slaves used for insurrectionary purposes
• 1862-Allowed the U.S. government to liberate any
  slave owned by someone who supported the
  Confederate rebellion in any way
• Lincoln did not believe these acts were
  constitutional so he did not enforce them

5
Emancipation Proclamation

• Issued by Lincoln in September,1862 after the
  Battle of Antietam
• Declared that the Civil War was, for the Union, a
  war against slavery
• Did not free all the slaves
• Stated that on January 1,1863 the U.S. government
  would liberate all slaves residing in those
  states still in rebellion
• Did not free slaves in the Border states or the
  Southern counties under the control of the Union
  army

6
Abolitionists Reactions

• Complained because the proclamation freed slaves
  only where the Union had no power to enforce
  emancipation and maintained slavery precisely
  where it could free the slaves
• Complained because Southern states could rejoin
  the Union without giving up slavery
• Other critics-it is okay to own slaves as long as
  you are loyal to the U.S.

7
Effect on the Civil War

• Escaped slaves and free slaves enlisted in the
  Union army(300,000)
• Less slaves helping the Southern war effort
• Desertions in the North increased especially from
  the Border states
• British public opinion would not back a war
  against slavery and prevented the South from
  forming any alliances
• Broadened the base of the war by turning it into
  a fight for freedom as well as for unity and
  removed any chance of a negotiated settlement
• South believed Lincoln stirring up slave
  insurrections and would have to fight slaves and
  the North

8
Post Emancipation Proclamation

• 1864- Lincoln gave his support to complete
  emancipation
• Summer,1864- Lincoln lobbied for a constitutional
  amendment prohibiting slavery
• 1865- 13th amendment-abolished slavery in the
  U.S. and forced labor except as punishment for a
  crime