Change to the Civil War
The Emancipation Proclamation changed the outcome of the Civil War, shifting the upper hand from the Confederacy to the Union, leading to an eventual Union victory.
Before the Emancipation Proclamation:
On April 12th, 1861, Confederate troops, led by General Robert E. Lee, attacked the Union occupied Fort Sumter located in South Carolina. This marks the beginning of the Civil War and the Union's failed attempts to reunite the United States under the federal government.
Battle of Fort Sumter
The following events and battles in the Civil War exhibited a clear upper hand for the Confederacy:
Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack (Virginia): A naval battle between Union and Confederate powers. Union powers blockaded the Confederacy but Confederate ships ran the blockade.
Battle at Shiloh (Tennessee): Both sides saw major casualties. The Union nearly faced defeat. Union lost 13,000 soldiers, Confederacy lost 11,000.
Battle at Antietam (Maryland): Although this battle was a Union victory, they still lost 12,401 soldiers in comparison to the 10,316 lost by the Confederacy. This battle brought Lincoln to see the extent of loss and violence in the war, marking his inspiration to begin the establishment of the Emancipation Proclamation.
After the Emancipation Proclamation:
The Emancipation Proclamation stated that all Enslaved people in Confederate states would be freed. This was done with heavy influence for them to join the Union army, in hopes of turning the tide of the war.
The following events and battles:
Battle at Gettysburg (Pennsylvania): The first battle after the issuing of the proclamation. Lasting three days, the Confederacy was forced to back out of the battle and withdraw troops. This marks a major turning point and began to give the Union an upper hand in the war.
The Vicksburg Campaign: The Union army took control of the Mississippi river, holding Vicksburg, Mississippi.
The Atlanta Campaign: The Union gains control of Atlanta, Georgia and enables "total war" onto the Confederate armies and destroys all in their path to victory.
April 9th, 1856: Confederate general Robert E. Lee surrenders to union powers making the end of the war and a victory for the union.
Above: Battle at Gettysburg
Below: The Atlanta Campaign
The Emancipation Proclamation contributed to a Union Victory in the Civil War. It shifted the upper hand from the Confederacy to the Union. The proclamation strengthened the Union army through added numbers, newly freed Confederate slaves bearing arms against the Confederacy, and working to emotionally strengthen the moral of the preexisting army. When all seemed lost, with death surrounding them, Lincoln remained hopeful and continued his efforts to reunite the United States under the Union, having a heavy influence on Union soldiers.