What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, was a crucial turning point in American history. Its main purpose was to declare the freedom of all enslaved people in the Confederate states that were in rebellion against the Union. This means that the proclamation applied specifically to territories where the Union had no control, aiming to weaken the Confederacy's war effort by freeing their labor force.

While it did not immediately free all enslaved individuals, it fundamentally changed the character of the Civil War. It allowed for the enlistment of African American soldiers in the Union Army and set a clear moral compass for the Union's cause. Thus, stating that the Emancipation Proclamation freed the slaves in the Confederate states is accurate, as it marked an important step toward the abolition of slavery throughout the entire country, culminating in the passage of the 13th Amendment later that year.

The other options involve key historical outcomes but do not accurately describe the purpose or effect of the Emancipation Proclamation. For example, the right to vote and women’s suffrage were significant social and political issues that emerged later and were addressed through different movements and legislation. Ending the Civil War was a complex process influenced by many events