- Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863 that proclaimed the freedom of all slaves in the Confederate States.
- Emancipation Proclamation was a turning point in the Civil War, as it changed the nature of the conflict from a fight to preserve the Union to a fight for freedom and equality for all Americans.
- It changed the course of American history by permanently ending slavery in the United States and providing a blueprint for future civil rights movements.
- The proclamation inspired African Americans to join the Union army as the United States Colored Troops (USCT), playing a crucial role in securing victory for the Union and helping to ensure the success of Reconstruction.
- The Emancipation Proclamation also laid the foundation for the future civil rights movement and the eventual abolition of slavery throughout the United States.
- Emancipation Proclamation was a crucial step towards achieving racial equality and justice in the United States.