Key factors contributing to emancipation as a central war aim for the Union include:
1. Military Necessity: As the Civil War progressed, the Union realized the strategic importance of freeing enslaved African Americans. The Confederacy relied heavily on slave labor to support its war efforts, and by depriving them of this resource, the Union aimed to weaken the Confederate economy and military capabilities.
2. Moral and Ethical Considerations: The abolitionist movement gained momentum in the North, and many Union soldiers and leaders were motivated by the belief that slavery was morally wrong and should be abolished. The Emancipation Proclamation aligned with these moral sentiments and aimed to end the institution of slavery.
3. Diplomatic considerations: The Union hoped that the Emancipation Proclamation would encourage European powers, particularly Great Britain and France, to support the Union's cause or at least refrain from intervening on the Confederacy's behalf. European nations had been critical of slavery and the Emancipation Proclamation demonstrated that the Union was committed to ending it.
4. Growing influence of the Radical Republicans: The Radical Republicans were a faction within the Republican Party who advocated for the immediate abolition of slavery and the granting of full citizenship rights to African Americans. They pushed for the adoption of the Thirteenth Amendment, which officially abolished slavery in the United States, and their influence contributed to making emancipation a central war aim.
5. Successes in the war: As the Union gained battlefield victories, it became increasingly confident in its ability to defeat the Confederacy and achieve its war goals. This allowed the Union to focus more on long-term objectives, such as emancipation.
In summary, the emancipation of enslaved African Americans became a central war aim for the Union due to a combination of military necessity, moral and ethical considerations, diplomatic considerations, the influence of the Radical Republicans, and the Union's changing fortunes in the war. The Emancipation Proclamation marked a significant step toward the eventual abolition of slavery in the United States.