What was the Emancipation Proclamation?

The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War. This significant document declared that all enslaved people in the Confederate states were to be set free. It marked a crucial turning point in the war, reinforcing the Union’s commitment to ending slavery and adding a moral imperative to the conflict.

The proclamation did not immediately free all enslaved individuals but gave those in the rebel states the legal status of freedom, bolstering the Union's war efforts by allowing for the enlistment of Black soldiers into the Union Army. It fundamentally changed the character of the Civil War from a battle over the Union’s survival to a struggle for freedom for millions of enslaved people.

The other options reflect misunderstandings of the nature of the proclamation. It was neither a declaration of war nor a treaty to end the conflict, and it was not a law passed by Congress but rather a command from the President as part of his war powers. Therefore, understanding the context and impact of this executive order is essential to grasping its significance in American history.