Title: How Emancipation Changed the War – Civil War Connections
Headings: How Emancipation Changed the War
How Emancipation Changed the War
Content: How Emancipation Changed the War – Civil War Connections
How Emancipation Changed the War
Posted by brian.whitenton on September 27, 2012 Comments Off on How Emancipation Changed the War >
Hey there, folks, and welcome back to the Connections blog! Today, I want to discuss the Emancipation Proclamation and how it forever altered our memory of what the Civil War was fought over. Before the Emancipation Proclamation was made public on September 22 nd, the purpose of the Union’s side was to quash the rebellion and reunite the country. The issue of slavery was a hot topic in the north, especially in Border States such as Maryland, Kentucky and Missouri, which all allowed slavery but remained loyal to the Union. In order to retain their loyalty, the Emancipation Proclamation only freed the slaves in areas currently rebelling against the government – it was more of a strike at the Confederacy’s resources than a nationwide abolishment of the institution. Nevertheless, by emancipating the Confederate slaves, President Lincoln fundamentally changed how each side interpreted the war. Although the proclamation wouldn’t go into effect until January 1st 1863, the announcement in September 1862 is widely seen as the start of it’s legacy. By changing their war-goals from “quelling the rebellion” to “quelling the rebellion and also ending slavery,” the Emancipation Proclamation gave the Union the moral high ground, an increase in relations with European powers, and a potentially large new segment of manpower ripe for recruitment. Abolitionist elements in the Union north were very vocal about the need to vanquish slavery, but the everyday people of the northern side initially didn’t have very strong feelings of support. Instead, they – like many of their brethren in the Confederate south – didn’t much care for blacks or their plight.