Title: “Thenceforward and Forever Free” | American Battlefield Trust
Headings: “Thenceforward and Forever Free”
“Thenceforward and Forever Free”
The Emancipation Proclamation and Its Effect on the War

Content: The Emancipation Proclamation changed the meaning and purpose of the Civil War. The war was no longer just about preserving the Union— it was also about freeing the slaves. Foreign powers such as Britain and France lost their enthusiasm for supporting the Confederacy. Furthermore, the Emancipation Proclamation also stated that, “Such persons of suitable condition, will be received into the armed service of the United States ….” African-Americans could now join the army, and eagerly did so, aiding the Union war effort. Over the course of the war, roughly 200,000 African-Americans served in the Union forces. Although many more amendments and laws would need to be passed before African-Americans enjoyed the full rights of citizenship, the Emancipation Proclamation was the first bold step in that process.