Emancipation Proclamation

E1484

The Emancipation Proclamation was a landmark 1863 executive order during the American Civil War that declared enslaved people in Confederate-held territories to be free, transforming the war’s purpose and paving the way for abolition.

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All labels observed (5)

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf executive order
legal document
presidential proclamation
affectedPopulation millions of enslaved African Americans in Confederate-controlled areas
announcedThat enslaved people in designated rebellious states would be free if those states did not return to the Union by January 1, 1863
appliedTo Confederate-held territories
archivedAt National Archives and Records Administration
author Abraham Lincoln
commemoratedOn Emancipation Day observances in various U.S. jurisdictions
conflictContext American Civil War
country United States of America
dateIssued 1863-01-01
declaredStatusOfEnslavedPeople free in areas in rebellion against the United States
didNotApplyTo Union-occupied areas of the Confederacy specifically exempted
border slave states loyal to the Union
documentType presidential proclamation and executive order
effectiveDate 1863-01-01
effectOnWarAims made abolition of slavery an explicit Union war goal
followedBy Union military advances that enforced emancipation in Confederate territories
fullTitle By the President of the United States of America: A Proclamation
historicalSignificance major turning point in the American Civil War
symbolic milestone in the destruction of slavery in the United States
influenced Thirteenth Amendment
surface form: Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
internationalImpact discouraged foreign recognition of the Confederacy by emphasizing slavery as a central issue
language English
legalBasisClaimed presidential war powers as commander in chief
legalEffect changed legal status of enslaved people in designated Confederate areas from enslaved to free
legalStatus executive order of the U.S. federal government
limitedBy Union military control required for actual enforcement
locationSigned Washington, D.C.
mediaType handwritten and printed document
militaryProvision authorized enlistment of African American men in the Union armed forces
officeHolder President of the United States
pavedWayFor abolition of slavery throughout the United States
precededBy Emancipation Proclamation self-linksurface differs
surface form: Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation
preliminaryVersionDate 1862-09-22
purpose to transform the Civil War into a war against slavery
to weaken the Confederacy by freeing enslaved people in rebelling states
recognizedBy historians as a landmark in civil rights history
relatedTo American abolitionist movement
Thirteenth Amendment
surface form: Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
resultedIn large-scale enlistment of Black soldiers in the Union Army and Navy
signedBy Abraham Lincoln
signedDuringPresidencyOf Abraham Lincoln
subjectOf extensive historical scholarship
numerous commemorations, exhibits, and public education programs
symbolized Union commitment to ending slavery

Referenced by (30)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Abraham Lincoln issued Emancipation Proclamation
American Civil War significantEvent Emancipation Proclamation
Abraham notableWork Emancipation Proclamation
subject surface form: Abraham Lincoln
Emancipation Proclamation precededBy Emancipation Proclamation self-linksurface differs
this entity surface form: Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation
"I Have a Dream" speech referencesDocument Emancipation Proclamation
Black Codes followedEvent Emancipation Proclamation
Reconstruction Amendments influencedBy Emancipation Proclamation
Union significantEvent Emancipation Proclamation
Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 effectivelyUnderminedBy Emancipation Proclamation
1864 United States presidential election tookPlaceAfter Emancipation Proclamation
African-American history relatedToEvent Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln family associatedWithEvent Emancipation Proclamation
Presidency of Abraham Lincoln significantEvent Emancipation Proclamation
Presidency of Abraham Lincoln policy Emancipation Proclamation
Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era coversEvent Emancipation Proclamation
Militia Act of 1862 relatedTo Emancipation Proclamation
Maryland Campaign ledTo Emancipation Proclamation
this entity surface form: Emancipation Proclamation preliminary announcement
Juneteenth announcement of emancipation in Texas follows Emancipation Proclamation
this entity surface form: Emancipation Proclamation of 1863
Border States relatedEvent Emancipation Proclamation
John Hope Franklin notableWork Emancipation Proclamation
this entity surface form: The Emancipation Proclamation
“Contraband decision” offering refuge to escaped enslaved people in 1861 preceded Emancipation Proclamation
subject surface form: Contraband decision
“Contraband decision” offering refuge to escaped enslaved people in 1861 relatedTo Emancipation Proclamation
subject surface form: Contraband decision
this entity surface form: Emancipation Proclamation of 1863
Act of June 28, 1864 relatedTo Emancipation Proclamation
United States Colored Troops legalBasis Emancipation Proclamation
Abraham Lincoln: The War Years coversEvent Emancipation Proclamation
Emancipation Memorial (Washington, D.C.) commemorates Emancipation Proclamation
Emancipation Memorial depicting Abraham Lincoln and a freed slave depicts Emancipation Proclamation
subject surface form: Emancipation Memorial
Emancipation Memorial depicting Abraham Lincoln and a freed slave commemorates Emancipation Proclamation
subject surface form: Emancipation Memorial