Whereas, on the twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing, among other things, the following, to wit:
"That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.
"That the Executive will, on the first day of January aforesaid, by proclamation, designate the States and parts of States, if any, in which the people thereof, respectively, shall then be in rebellion against the United States; and the fact that any State, or the people thereof, shall on that day be, in good faith, represented in the Congress of the United States by members chosen thereto at elections wherein a majority of the qualified voters of such State shall have participated, shall, in the absence of strong countervailing testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such State, and the people thereof, are not then in rebellion against the United States."
Now, therefore I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested as Commander-in-Chief, of the Army and Navy of the United States in time of actual armed rebellion against the authority and government of the United States, and as a fit and necessary war measure for suppressing said rebellion, do, on this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and in accordance with my purpose so to do publicly proclaimed for the full period of one hundred days, from the day first above mentioned, order and designate as the States and parts of States wherein the people thereof respectively, are this day in rebellion against the United States, the following, to wit:
Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, (except the Parishes of St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, St. John, St. Charles, St. James Ascension, Assumption, Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Mary, St. Martin, and Orleans, including the City of New Orleans) Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, (except the forty-eight counties designated as West Virginia, and also the counties of Berkley, Accomac, Northampton, Elizabeth City, York, Princess Ann, and Norfolk, including the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth[)], and which excepted parts, are for the present, left precisely as if this proclamation were not issued.
And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.
And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free to abstain from all violence, unless in necessary self-defence; and I recommend to them that, in all cases when allowed, they labor faithfully for reasonable wages.
And I further declare and make known, that such persons of suitable condition, will be received into the armed service of the United States to garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said service.
And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind, and the gracious favor of Almighty God.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the eighty-seventh.
Main Idea
Describe in detail what you see.
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The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, marked a significant turning point in American history during the Civil War. The document is presented as a formal proclamation, indicating its official status and importance.
Context and Authority: Lincoln references a previous declaration made on September 22, 1862, establishing the framework for this proclamation. He asserts his authority as Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy in a time of armed rebellion against the United States, indicating that the proclamation is both a legal and military measure.
Freedom for Enslaved People: The essence of the proclamation is the declaration that all persons held as slaves in states or parts of states that are in rebellion against the United States shall be free. This was a bold move aimed at weakening the Confederate states’ economies, which relied heavily on slave labor.
Designated States: Lincoln specifically names the states and parts of states where this proclamation applies, confirming the areas he has identified as being in rebellion. He makes exceptions for certain parishes in Louisiana and counties in Virginia, indicating that not all regions within these states are considered in rebellion.
Call for Nonviolence and Labor: Lincoln urges the newly freed individuals to refrain from violence, except in self-defense. He encourages them to seek employment for fair wages, reflecting an understanding that the transition from slavery to freedom would require both a legal and social adjustment.
Military Service: The proclamation allows suitable persons among the freed slaves to join the United States Armed Forces. This was a critical shift, as it acknowledged the capabilities and contributions of formerly enslaved people as part of the nation’s fight.
Moral Justification: Lincoln frames the act as a measure of both justice and necessity, invoking the support of mankind and divine favor, thus appealing to moral sensibilities and the larger implications of the war and emancipation.
Formal Closure: The proclamation concludes with Lincoln's signature and the Great Seal of the United States, underscoring its legitimacy and the gravitas of its contents. The date of its issuance and reference to the anniversary of the country’s independence serve to place this moment within a broader national context.
Overall, the Emancipation Proclamation stands as a powerful symbol of the fight for freedom and justice during one of the most turbulent times in American history. It not only aimed to liberate enslaved people but also sought to reshape the nation’s moral and political landscape.
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