Discover More: Exploring Primary Sources Exploring the Emancipation Proclamation

Though it is widely thought that the Emancipation Proclamation brought an end to the abhorrent institution of slavery in the United States, the truth of the matter is a bit more complex. This primary source only freed enslaved persons in the states rebelling against the nation, so it had little immediate effect. The Proclamation eventually freed millions of people, enabled Black men to become Union troops, and stated the Union’s goal of ending the war. This volume showcases the importance of closely examining primary sources, as readers can tighten their grasp on this crucial point in history within the photographs and sidebars featured.