The Emancipation Proclamation was declared following the Union’s win at Antietam. By making this “freedom statement” after a much needed win, Lincoln rallied support for his army and gave them a boost in both morale and numbers. In addition, the document declared all slaves free in the rebelling states so he could avoid having the border states secede. Along with the freedom of slaves, African Americans were now allowed to fight in the war. This decision placed the Southern forces at a disadvantage because the North was gaining more troops. Moreover, the statement of freedom made slavery a focal point in the war.
African Americans joined the ranks of the Union, but were still not equal to their white counterparts. The following quote represents the inequality between Union soldiers, “Black soldiers …show more content…
Due to the fact that the Confederacy saw themselves as their own country, they did not see Lincoln’s authority over them and so they did not free any slaves. In his writing, Lincoln was careful to appease the border states, cause tension with the South, and keep other nations out of the war. The South was an interest to foreign countries because of their potential to expand West. At this point, Lincoln realized he needed to make the outsiders disinterested so he acted quickly and announced the document after a Union