The Emancipation Proclamation

The Emancipation Proclamation was an important order from President Abraham Lincoln. He signed it on January 1, 1863, during the Civil War. The word 'emancipation' means becoming free. The order said that enslaved people in the Southern states were free. It changed the purpose of the Civil War.

Lincoln's Big Decision

President Lincoln hated slavery and wanted it to end. During the Civil War, he saw a chance to help free the enslaved people. He wrote the Emancipation Proclamation and shared it with the country. The paper said that enslaved people in the Confederate states were free. It made freedom a big goal of the war.

What Happened Next

The Proclamation did not free every enslaved person right away. Some areas still had slavery because they were not in the Confederacy. But it gave hope to millions of people. Many formerly enslaved men joined the Union army to fight. Two years later, the 13th Amendment ended slavery in all of the United States.

Fun Facts

• Lincoln worked on the Proclamation for many months before signing it.
• About 3.5 million enslaved people were freed by the order.
• Lincoln said signing the paper was the greatest act of his life.

Did You Know?

Juneteenth is a holiday on June 19 that celebrates the day in 1865 when the news of freedom finally reached enslaved people in Texas.