Mary - Journeytohistory

Chapter 11Civil War231It was the Union victory at Antietam on September 17, 1862, that causedLincoln to act. Five days later he issued a preliminary proclamation. ]n thisdocument he revived the possibility of compensated emancipation and saidthat he would continue to encourage the voluntary coloniza­Lincoln'stion of blacks "upon this continent or elsewhere." The timepreliminaryprodollllltionhad come, however, when more direct action was needed. Sohe proclaimed that on January 1, 1863, "all persons held asslaves within any State, or designated part of the State, the people whereofshall be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward,and forever free."The general reaction in the North was unfavorable. Many whites felt thatthe war was no longer to save the Union but to free the slaves, and some soldiersresigned rather than participate in such a struggle. The Peace Democratsaccused the administration of wasting the lives of white citizens in a costlyHeading of the EnuIRcil)lItion Proclamlltion. After P.'esident Lincoln is ued theEmancipation Proclamation on January 1. ) 86.3. shIves soon Jeamed ahout it. Here. al nion soldier rends thc docul1lcilt to n group of slnves in their cabin. (TILe. Imistw.fResearch Cellter)