Analysis Of William Tecumseh Sherman's Emancipation Proclamation

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In September, Union General William Tecumseh Sherman began a ruthless assault on the Georgian countryside, capturing and incinerating Atlanta in the process. His 60,000 troops plundered 60 miles through Georgia, ending their lengthy attack just a few days ago with the siege of Savannah, Georgia. A great deal of civilian property was demolished, leaving the land scarred. “It was as if the sky itself was trembling,” a victim of Sherman’s forces reported. “The sound of bloodshed and war could be heard from miles away.”
What could the Union possibly hope to gain from this homicidal course of action? It appears as though they lust for the destruction Southern supplies and the downfall of Confederate morale through ‘total war.’ This desire …show more content…
It stated that rebellious states who continued fighting and did not rejoin the Union would have all of their slaves freed. The final Emancipation Proclamation was enacted on January 1, 1863. President Abraham Lincoln waited for a military victory to occur before issuing his proclamation because he wanted the ability to reinforce his order. Also, Lincoln wished to have full possession of the Border States before his proclamation due to fears of losing their loyalty.
The proclamation does not currently affect the Border States, who remain in the Union, or the South, which remains separate from Northern control but wary of potential change. Northern Democrats also disapprove of the proclamation because the focus of the war changed from unity to slavery. Slavery issues prompt Britain, previously an ally, to abandon the Confederacy. Britain, who emancipated its slaves in 1833, is entirely against the institution, but depends greatly on Southern cotton.
New goals brought about by the decree also caused many slaves to enter Union armies. Now, if the Union is someday restored, the South will be forced to emancipate its remaining slaves - a measure that faces tremendous
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