About the proclamation:

  On Jan. 1, 1863, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln issued this proclamation, declaring all slaves residing in territory in rebellion against the federal government to be free. In actuality, the Emancipation Proclamation actually freed very few people. The proclamation did not apply to slaves residing in border states fighting on the side of the Union; nor did it have any effect on slaves in southern regions already under control of the Union. As was to be expected, the Confederate States in rebellion did not acknowledge Lincoln's order. However, the proclamation served an important role in showing Americans, and the world, that the civil war was now being fought as an end to slavery.

  Few people today know that Lincoln had been somewhat reluctant to come to this position. As a believer in white supremacy, Lincoln initially saw the war only as a means to preserving the Union. However, as mounting pressure for the abolition of slavery came to bear both in Congress and throughout the country, Lincoln was forced to become more receptive to the concept. On Sept. 22, 1862, he issued this preliminary proclamation declaring that emancipation of the slaves in the rebellious states would be effective on Jan. 1, 1863. While the Emancipation Proclamation did little to stop slavery in America, it did establish the abolition of slavery a basic goal of the war and laid a foundation for the principle. The abolition of slavery and emancipation of all slaves was finally accomplished through the passage of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution on Dec. 18, 1865.


THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION:
By the President of the United States of America:

A PROCLAMATION

  Whereas on the 22nd day of September, A.D. 1862, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing, among other things, the following, to wit:

  "That on the 1st day of January, A.D. 1863, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.

  "That the executive will on the 1st day of January aforesaid, by proclamation, designate the States and parts of States, if any, in which the people thereof, respectively, shall then be in rebellion against the United States; and the fact that any State or the people thereof shall on that day be in good faith represented in the Congress of the United States by members chosen thereto at elections wherein a majority of the qualified voters of such States shall have participated shall, in the absence of strong countervailing testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such State and the people thereof are not then in rebellion against the United States."

  Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested as Commander-In-Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States in time of actual armed rebellion against the authority and government of the United States, and as a fit and necessary war measure for supressing said rebellion, do, on this 1st day of January, A.D. 1863, and in accordance with my purpose so to do, publicly proclaimed for the full period of one hundred days from the first day above mentioned, order and designate as the States and parts of States wherein the people thereof, respectively, are this day in rebellion against the United States the following, to wit:

  Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana (except the parishes of St. Bernard, Palquemines, Jefferson, St. John, St. Charles, St. James, Ascension, Assumption, Terrebone, Lafourche, St. Mary, St. Martin, and Orleans, including the city of New Orleans), Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia (except the forty-eight counties designated as West Virginia, and also the counties of Berkeley, Accomac, Morthhampton, Elizabeth City, York, Princess Anne, and Norfolk, including the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth), and which excepted parts are for the present left precisely as if this proclamation were not issued.

  And by virtue of the power and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States and parts of States are, and henceforward shall be, free; and that the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.

  And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free to abstain from all violence, unless in necessary self-defence; and I recommend to them that, in all case when allowed, they labor faithfully for reasonable wages.

  And I further declare and make known that such persons of suitable condition will be received into the armed service of the United States to garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said service.

  And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind and the gracious favor of Almighty God.