How Did The Emancipation Proclamation Changed The Course Of The Civil War

Issued on 1 January 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation changed the course of the Civil War. It drastically changed the meaning of the war and what it was being fought for, bringing a new meaning of freedom for the United States. The proclamation brought a clear advantage to the Union as it crippled the Confederacy. Its powerful internal and external effects contributed to a major turning point as the issue of slavery became directly associated with the war and its purpose. During the Civil War, the idea of emancipation was contentious, and slavery was an institution over which the federal government had no power. The complete abolition of slavery continually proved to be a complicated matter with no straightforward solution. Prior to the outbreak
There was hardly anything the Confederacy could do to keep its fight going for longer. Over the years, this slowly crippled the economy of Confederate states. It was unlikely that the Confederate states could resuscitate their ailing economy because the importation of slaves had been illegal since 1808 (Dueholm). The detrimental effect the proclamation had on the Confederacy made the result of Union victory significantly more accomplishable. Emancipation was significant to the United States and its people because of the message it proclaimed. It promised the slaves that they would be forever free. It also made a promise and showed commitment to the endeavor to end slavery (“The Emancipation Proclamation”). It expressed that the slaves had the support of the Union and that the war had turned into a battle to end slavery conclusively. Aside from its internal effects on the Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation also impacted the actions of European nations and their motives during the war. It became clear that many European powers would want to side with the Confederacy during the