What is the short term significance of the Emancipation Proclamation?

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What is the short term significance of the Emancipation Proclamation?


The Emancipation Declaration was announced by Abraham Lincoln in 1863, it assured the abolishment of slavery, and this alone was a short term significance revealing the importance of Abraham Lincoln’s decision. For the purpose of this discussion the meaning of short term significance will be defined as a pivotal moment of the period 1863-1865 in the American Civil war.  To measure these criteria we must consider the short term significance of the main areas in this period the primary areas will be the lives of black Americans, black soldiers and white officers in the Union Army, Abraham Lincoln’s decision on the Emancipation Proclamation and foreign affairs

In 1863 Abraham Lincoln fulfilled his promise, the emancipation Proclamation: “that all persons held as slaves” within the states still in rebellion “are henceforward shall be, free “. This proves the support of an ideal politician promoting the freedom of black American slaves. In the short term period this reinforced the fundamental transformation of the war, as after the proclamation slavery was untouched. Therefore the war for the union became a war against slavery, both borders battling for Black slaves. This illustrates the desperation of people that how significant Black Salves have become to both North and South. Many would argue that in the short term meaning this boosted majority of black slaves to become more courageous and fight for their freedom to escape. An extract ‘free at last’ illustrates the hope for black Americans ‘the slaves took full advantage, chipping away at their bondage from within while Union armies pounded it from without’ this explains their discretion of trying to break away even though their former slave holders have tighten their discipline into a more brutal way. In contrast a source by Pleas. Smith proves that many former slaves were mentally bound to be rather dead then accepting brutality. The source stated that ‘a negro was caught armed and killed’ in the short term significance this shows that the emancipation proclamation perhaps enriched Black Americans being rebellious, being armed and ready to fight, accept death with honour.  Furthermore another extract by Okolona Miss illustrates the moral significance of Black American Slaves, in the extract the former slaves were referred to as ‘‘missionaries’’ this relates to the strengthened morale of the former slaves preaching the words of god. However the immediate enforcement of freeing slaves was only pursued in the short period of time during the Civil war, some would argue it was the act of being rebellious of part of the war measure.

However the significance of the Emancipation proclamation also indicated the undesirable short term acts, which highlighted the consequences of that period.  The proclamation triggered terror among black Americans many of them feared to fight for freedom as the consequences were brutal and vivid.  A letter from a former slave Archy Vaughn shows how badly one was tortured if attempting to escape. This sort of brutality mentally wounded Black Americans in losing faith for their freedom.  The short term significance of the emancipation proclamation of incidents like this was that it provoked slave holders enforcement of power and to show a way of authority, also it also shows tragedy for black Americans like Archy Vaughn. The emancipation proclamation also brought lack of enthusiasm of the north during the civil war as many would argue that once the outbreak become out of control the northern Military were changing their view on emancipation proclamation. Another extract stated in 1863 in Washington  ‘changing purposes of the war and the military benefits of emancipation’ this illustrated the change of the war purpose helping the military focusing on black American slaves and supporting their freedom which shows the significance of black Americans that the emancipation proclamation brought about.

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 The military service was a strong aspect for the emancipation and equality. Black men compelled for an opportunity to join the Union army, it brought in new opportunities and a glance of hope for many black American men, the inclination of black American men was a short term significant itself. Another extract from ‘Free at last 1992’ suggests that many of the black Americans were willing to participate in the army in other words to fight for their freedom, by the end of the war 180,000 black American soldiers fought in the army.  This was short term significance; it allowed them ...

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