What is the short term significance of the Emancipation Proclamation?

 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 to learn about the world attending regimental schools. It was a limited form of freedom for black American soldiers that the emancipation proclamation brought to them, a gradual progress of change. In the short term significance their experience can be arguably looked as a success as many black soldiers established freedom in knowledge showing them the real world outside of slavery, morally after going through slavery it physically and mentally toughened them and enhanced their confidence to fight for freedom. Nevertheless another extract from ‘Free at last 1992’ illustrates that this was only short term consequence the out let of black soldiers fighting in the army caused other disruptions between regiments and white officers as many of them felt inferior towards the black soldier’s progress. ‘the exclusion of black men from the commissioned ranks- lieutenant and higher-‘, this shows that they didn’t want to diminish the social structure of the army, as having black Americans as officers would degrade the command capability. Therefore in the short term significance of the emancipation proclamation the experiences of the black soldiers can be described as a set back as the short glance of freedom was not enough to assure them respect in society including the military.

Furthermore another extract from ‘free at last’ suggests that the emancipation proclamation did not specify the terms and conditions of service as this could have caused tension between the white militant, however promises were made to assure equal rights for black soldiers in the army, in the short term significance this initiated hope and freedom for former slaves.  It could be argued that it was a measured progress. Following a letter by John A. Andrew  that also suggests the gradual acceptance of Black American in the army. This provided support for their freedom and emphasised their right to be equal. The short term significance for this proves that the emancipation proclamation promoted assurance and willingness that the white politicians were starting to give for black American soldiers. In contrast it could be argued that the emancipation proclamation was brought in as a war measure it was not designed to free slaves and promote equality but to assist the restoration of the union, and that black American men were used for their physical capability in the war not to make them equal and freed. In another extract from ‘Free at last 1992’ it stated ‘African descent were physiologically adapted to tropical climates and peculiarly suited to duty in unhealthy settings’ this illustrates that in their opinion black American are physically stronger and more suited for harsh duties  in the army, therefore in the short term significance this can be seen as an excuse that the emancipation proclamation did not  necessary support black equality in actuality it made black soldiers work under the commands of white officers, perhaps another form of slavery; a continuation. What was clear from this was that the US army was microcosm of the US society.

Abraham Lincoln was known as the ‘Great Emancipator’ after he declared the Emancipation Proclamation. Lincoln did not want black Americans to be equal to white Americans, his decision to free them some would argue was that Lincoln was being pragmatic, the war of conciliation transformed into the war of freeing the slaves balancing the two issues, this alone was a short term significance it revealed the actual purpose of Lincolns strategy. The Letter from Abraham Lincoln to James C. Conking shows how Lincoln is defending his decision to emancipate the slaves, even though opposition towards Lincoln were rising, in the short term period this was significant as Lincoln faces oppositions. He had to defend himself it supported the nation that the Emancipation proclamation was a war measure. Furthermore a statement by Thomas Johnson a former slave, ‘Twenty-Eight Years a Slave’ (1909) in the short term significance this proves how Abraham Lincolns is still being remember as the man who abolished slavery. Lincoln’s firm decision assured an existence for many black American they refer to him as ‘a martyr for American freedom’. However in contrast Frederick Douglass mentions in his book ‘life and times’ that this was not a moral cause, ‘it was the turning-point in the conflict between freedom and slavery’ he suggests that slavery was not what Lincoln had started with it was just a factor of the war that gradually was calculated to be a short term pivotal moment for Abraham Lincoln.

Whether Lincoln was a great deceiver or a great emancipator can still be argued however his fulfilment of declaring the Emancipation declaration was alone a significant moment. In an extract of ‘the American Civil War’ it refers to Lincolns methods as ‘extremely cautions’. To turn the purpose of the war into a war measure was a cautious act of Lincoln as his main aim was to restore the union but he also aimed to please the nation with stating a significant act such as the Emancipation proclamation, therefore this was the short term significance on Abraham Lincoln as his cautious calculated strategy enabled freedom but also reconciliation of the Union. Nevertheless the short term significance of the Emancipation Proclamation was clearly the victory of the war that Lincoln successfully achieved. In an extract of the biography of Abraham Lincoln it suggests Lincoln was aware that the war reached a decisive turning point; a calculated war measure. It describes the fundamental transformation that a new union was born, the war became a revolution. Therefore this notable transformation was credited to Abraham Lincoln which was a short term significant. The tragic death of Lincoln emphasised his notable immortal remembrance.  

Furthermore the Emancipation Proclamation had a drastic impact on foreign policy. It enabled to bend Britain’s supports on the Confederate Army. As the aim of the war was to unify the unions therefore this affected Britain’s support for a slave state, thus this could have triggered the remaining foreign intervention. Therefore the short term significance of this shows Abraham Lincoln calculated decision on of to preserve the union and sway Britain’s support. Furthermore the source by John Tenniel suggests that metaphorically Lincoln’s last card was before his death which was to announce the Emancipation proclamation, the source illustrates the picture of Abraham Lincoln placing his last card showing his authority and power, even though he had a lot opposition. Therefore the short term significance of the Emancipation Proclamation shows that the war of reconciliation was a war measure; expanding the Union war aim to comprise freeing slaves which may have helped to influence British public opinion in favour of the north cause.

In conclusion the emancipation proclamation theoretically freed the slaves, but it was unlikely for slavery to end peacefully. It evoked issues and racial reactions that did not improve the lives of Black American, however arguably the Emancipation proclamation showed the support of the government, whether the abolishment of slavery was used to restore the union or not, it still brought about a short term significant change of direction in the history of America and in the long term it triggered the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendment. It opened opportunities for black Americans such as serving for the union army, however some would argue that those were not dignified duties given, but yet the short term significance was that it was a gradual progress in giving black American soldiers opportunities, hope and freedom. Furthermore the main aim of Abraham Lincoln was to preserve the union additionally this led to freeing the slaves therefore it could be argued that the short term significance of the Emancipation Proclamation was that Lincoln was being pragmatic and measuring both ends which made it a calculated war measure.