1. The Proclamation only applied to slaves in Confederate-held territory still in rebellion at the time. This meant slaves in border states that were loyal to the Union, as well as slaves in Confederate territory that had already been captured, were not freed by the declaration.
2. The Emancipation Proclamation was dependent on the success of the Confederate forces. If the Union had not emerged as the winner, the declaration would have been revoked and slavery would have been intact in the Confederate states.
3. Many southerners did not recognize the authority of the federal government and viewed the Emancipation Proclamation as an unjust and illegal decree. This resistance restricted the proclamation's implementation in many areas.
4. The declaration did not address the complexities of post-emancipation life for the freed slaves, including their rights, economic opportunities, and social status. Its main objective was to undermine the Confederate army and support the Union's military efforts, but it did not provide a comprehensive plan for the integration and support of the newly freed population.
5. Despite the Emancipation Proclamation, slavery persisted in some remote and isolated regions where Union authority was not fully established or enforced. The complete abolition of slavery in the United States was not achieved until the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution in 1865.