The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, declared that all enslaved individuals in Confederate states were to be set free. Although it did not immediately free all enslaved people, as it only applied to Confederate states and not border states loyal to the Union, the Emancipation Proclamation marked a significant turning point in US history and in the lives of Black Americans.

The proclamation effectively transformed the Civil War into a struggle for the abolition of slavery, shifting the moral compass of the conflict. It also encouraged enslaved individuals to escape to Union lines, where many joined the Union army and navy to fight for their freedom.

While the Emancipation Proclamation did not fully end slavery in the United States, it laid the foundation for the eventual passage of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865, which formally abolished slavery nationwide. The Emancipation Proclamation is celebrated as a landmark moment in Black history, symbolizing the ongoing struggle for freedom, justice, and equality for all.