What did the Emancipation Proclamation accomplish?

The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, specifically aimed to free enslaved people in the Confederate states that were in rebellion against the Union. This proclamation did not grant freedom to enslaved people in border states that remained loyal to the Union or in areas of the Confederacy that had already come under Union control. However, it represented a significant turning point in the Civil War as it redefined the purpose of the war to include the fight against slavery, allowing the Union to enlist freed slaves into the army.

This proclamation is a key moment in American history as it laid the groundwork for the eventual passage of the 13th Amendment, which formally abolished slavery in the United States. Understanding the specifics of what the Emancipation Proclamation accomplished is important in recognizing its role in shaping civil rights and the course of American history. The other options refer to rights or changes that occurred either before or after this significant document and are not directly related to the outcomes of the Emancipation Proclamation itself.