On January 1863, President Lincoln declared that all slaves in the Confederacy “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.”

Question

Even though the proclamation didn’t actually free slaves, why was it an important turning point in the Civil War? Select the two correct responses.

(1 point)
Responses

The proclamation weakened the Union's position.
The proclamation weakened the Union's position.

It opened the door for African Americans to enlist in the Union army.
It opened the door for African Americans to enlist in the Union army.

It resulted in the surrender of key generals for the Confederacy.
It resulted in the surrender of key generals for the Confederacy.

The war became a battle for human rights and freedom.
The war became a battle for human rights and freedom.

Answer 1

The two correct responses that highlight the importance of the Emancipation Proclamation in the Civil War are:

1. It opened the door for African Americans to enlist in the Union army.

2. The war became a battle for human rights and freedom.

These points illustrate how the proclamation transformed the nature of the conflict and strengthened the Union's moral position.