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The announcement made by President
Lincoln during the Civil War on September
22, 1862, emancipating all black slaves in states still engaged in rebellion against the
Union.
"All persons held as slaves … shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free"— Abraham
Lincoln

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First Confiscation Act: authorized the confiscation of any property—including slaves—used in the rebellion against the U.S. government o o
This act was passed in Congress August 1861.
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Second Confiscation Act: declared that slaves held by supporters of the Confederacy who crossed over
Union lines were "forever free."
This act was passed in Congress July 17 th 1862
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A week later the first daft of the Emancipation
Proclamation was read by Lincoln to his Cabinet.

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Why did he wait so long to issue this proclamation?
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September 17 th 1862: Lincoln needed a decisive union victory to lend credence to the proclamation and got one at the Battle of Antietam.
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September 22 nd 1862: Lincoln Signed the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.

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By signing the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation,
Lincoln informed both the Confederacy and the Union of his intention to free all persons held as slaves in the rebellious states.
As promised in the preliminary proclamation, 100 days later, on January 1, 1863, Lincoln issued the Emancipation
Proclamation.
The five-page document declared that slaves in the rebel states were free, provided them with the support of the U.S. government—including the Army and Navy.

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The Emancipation Proclamation only applied to the states in rebellion.
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Lincoln’s advisors did not initially support the Emancipation Proclamation.
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The Emancipation Proclamation was a firm demonstration of the President’s executive war powers.

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The Emancipation Proclamation changed the focus of the war.
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The Emancipation Proclamation helped prevent the involvement of foreign nations in the Civil War.
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The Emancipation Proclamation paved the way for
African-Americans to fight for their freedom.
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The Emancipation Proclamation led the way to total abolition of slavery in the United States.

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Lincoln considered the Emancipation
Proclamation the crowning achievement of his presidency.

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For the first time it officially placed the U.S.
Government against the “peculiar institution” of slavery.
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Changed the focus of the war and pushed slavery into the forefront of the war.
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Former slaves were given the opportunity to fight in the union army.
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International support from France and England.
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Forged the path for the freeing of all slaves.

 http://www.history.com/topics/american-civilwar/shermans-march

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Sherman's famed March to the Sea, also known as the
Savannah Campaign, began after the encirclement of
Atlanta in August 1864.
November 15 th 1864 the march began across Georgia.
The purpose of the march was to make Southern civilians understand the horrors and harshness of war.
This was the third part of the newly revised Anaconda plan.
o o o
1. Blockade southern ports
2. Mississippi Plan- Union vessels stationed on the Mississippi river.
3. Savannah Campaign- “Sherman’s March to the Sea”

Union
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Major General William T.
Sherman
62,000 men
Confederates
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Lieutenant General William
J. Hardee
13,000 men

Major General William T.
Sherman
Lieutenant General William J.
Hardee

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At the same time in Virginia, General Ulysses S. Grant had his mind set on capturing Richmond, VA, the confederate capital.
Grant had tried, unsuccessfully, for ten months to infiltrate the city.
He was finally successful after his victory at Petersburg, VA.
( 50 miles from Richmond)
The confederates knew that if Richmond fell the war would surely be over.

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Lee sent a letter to Jefferson Davis, after the Siege of
Petersburg, saying that they would be better off abandoning the capital because it could no longer be defended. Taking immediate action Davis burned all Confederate documents about the war and went on the run.
After they had fallen in Petersburg, the Confederates were running out of food and supplies. They were being surrounded by Union forces.

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April 9 th 1865: Robert E. Lee surrendered his army at
Appomattox Station a few days after Richmond had fallen to
Union troops.
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The Confederates set the entire city of Richmond on fire upon leaving, leaving nothing for the Union to use against the remaining Confederates.