LEARNING TOGETHER: The Story of America
In 1863, a couple of years into the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves…kinda. It freed only those enslaved in the 11 Confederate States that had waged war against the Union. States that supported the Union or were controlled by the Union got to keep their slaves.
Basically, this was a military strategy used by Lincoln to deprive the South of its free labor thus destroying their economy. Lincoln’s main goal was to save the Union whether that meant freeing all slaves, some slaves, or no slaves. Also, the Emancipation Proclamation was valid only if the North won the war. However, this proclamation did open the door up for Black Americans to serve in the Civil War. And it kept foreign countries (Britain, France, etc.) who were lending towards the Confederacy out of our business.
It would take a constitutional amendment, the 13th amendment, to end this very peculiar institution permanently…kinda. Because freedom is never guaranteed even in our “freedom loving” United States. There are those who have always challenged the freedom and rights of their fellow Americans. This is why the freedom of all Americans must be protected at all times.
Noteworthy Fact(s):
To preserve the Union, or stop the secession, President-Elect Abraham Lincoln tried to pass the Corwin Amendment. A kind of compromise that would prevent the government from ending slavery in the states where it existed. Although, this amendment never passed, it is still awaiting state legislatures approval.
OUR HISTORY MATTERS
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