Paperwork
Process Paper
I chose to complete this project on the Emancipation Proclamation because I already had a strong previous knowledge of the subject. As a sophomore, I took AP US History and thoroughly enjoyed the subject and its topics. The topic that drew most of my interest was the Civil War and the actions Abraham Lincoln took as president during his time. Arguably his most important action during his time as president was the issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation because of its lasting impact on the United States.
For this topic, it was difficult to find primary sources. Most of the research was derived from the proclamation itself or encyclopedia websites. I also used my past knowledge on the proclamation from the studying I did for my AP exam last spring. The proclamation was extremely helpful as I could use it to see how Lincoln chose to word his writing due to the strong controversy during a time of great division. This helped me from my supporting evidence using his underlying themes and purposes. Encyclopedias helped me to support this evidence and to gain a broader knowledge of the subjects I used to explain the great impact the Emancipation Proclamation had on the United States of America. My research continued with my search for graphics, images, and quotes to add to my website. I conducted my interview in person with an expert in United States history who was my former educator. He answered the questions I prepared simply and quickly, making sure to not drag on about unimportant details.
Due to my limited time in comparison to my peers. I chose to complete a website for my project. I am familiar with Google Sites as I have used the program for educational purposes in the past. The site allowed me to organize my evidence in a way that is easy to understand and comprehensible for the reader. I chose to make all my main supporting pieces subpages to a greater page with my thesis.
For my thesis, I chose to attack how the Emancipation Proclamation changed the outcome of not only the Civil War but all American history. The potential evidence to support my thesis is very wide as the Emancipation Proclamation changed many different aspects of the United States of America.
The issuing and making of the Emancipation Proclamation was a major turning point in American history because of its impact on so many aspects of American culture and life. It changed the lives of Black Americans and began the first steps in their fight for their freedom. It changed the dependencies of the economy and infrastructure by taking away enslaved, free labor. It also changed the United States federal government while simultaneously changing the culture of the southern region of the United States to be more inclusive and less destructive to human life. Most importantly, The Emancipation Proclamation changed the outcome of the Civil War towards a Union victory, allowing all of these other effects on American history to occur.
Annotated Bibliography
“Emancipation Proclamation (1863).” National Archives and Records Administration, National Archives and Records Administration, www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/emancipation-proclamation#:~:text=President%20Abraham%20Lincoln%20issued%20the,and%20henceforward%20shall%20be%20free.%22. Accessed 22 Jan. 2024.
This written description is from a trusted source for analyzing historical documents and is from a national administration. It is a description of the Emancipation Proclamation and its short term purposes and underlying objectives. This source helps to better understand what President Lincoln wanted out of the proclamation as we cannot ask him personally.
“1800s-1850s: Resisting Slavery.” NBCNews.Com, NBCUniversal News Group, 27 May 2008, www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna24714507.
This website has a vast amount of information containing many different photos and political cartoons. It is an article about black Americans from the 1800s-1850s resisting enslavement. I used this source for the illustration of a black enslaved American being scolded.
Abraham Lincoln Papers: Series 1. General ... - Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/resource/mal.1723200/?st=text. Accessed 22 Jan. 2024.
This is derived from a website containing many trusted government official papers and it is written by a former president. The source is the original write up of the proclamation. This can help to understand how the initial model changed into the final and what was going through Lincoln's head. The historical context behind this piece is the civil war.
“American Civil War Timeline.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., www.britannica.com/summary/American-Civil-War-Timeline. Accessed 22 Jan. 2024.
This is an encyclopedia of the Civil War. It is trusted and authentic because it is from an intelligent, trustworthy website known for having this information. The source is an overview of the Civil War and all that happened before, during, and slightly after it. It helps to better understand the Emancipation Proclamation and its context during its time, also how it was a turning point during the war itself.
“Atlanta Campaign.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Jan. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta_campaign.
This site is very well known for its wide array of images. I used this site for an illustration of The Atlanta Campaign. The image can help viewers to better visualize the battles of the Civil War and their significance during the time.
“Battle of Fort Sumter.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Nov. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Fort_Sumter.
This site is very well known for its wide array of images and illustrations. I used this site for an illustration of The Battle of Fort Sumter. The image can help viewers to better visualize the battles of the Civil War and how the opposing sides fought against each other.
“Black Codes - Definition, Dates & Jim Crow Laws.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-codes. Accessed 22 Jan. 2024.
This article is derived from a trusted, knowledgeable website on historic information. It explains the process of reconstruction how during that period southern states found ways to bypass the prohibition of slavery with black codes. This source helps the viewer to see the growth of the Civil Rights Movement.
Brown, Nikki. “Jim Crow & Segregation.” 64 Parishes, 5 Apr. 2023, 64parishes.org/entry/jim-crowsegregation.
This source is from a trusted website ending in “organization”. This source is a description of the Jim Crow Laws beginning with their creation to their demise. I used this source for an image of an individual protesting against the Jim Crow laws which helps the viewer to better understand the time period.
Chan, Amy. “CWT Book Review: The Emancipation Proclamation- Three Views.” HistoryNet, 24 Aug. 2018, www.historynet.com/cwt-book-review-emancipation-proclamation-three-views/.
I accessed this from a trust book review site. This source is an analysis and review of three different perspectives on the emancipation proclamation and effects and impacts by Harold Holzer, Edna Greene Medford, and Frank J. Williams. This helped me to understand the authors and how their viewpoints correlate with their beliefs better.
Civil War Gave Birth to Much of Modern Federal Government, www.washingtonpost.com/politics/civil-war-gave-birth-to-much-of-modern-federal-government/2011/09/22/gIQA43EFSL_story.html. Accessed 22 Jan. 2024.
This quote is derived from a trusted US news source and it is taken from a trusted, well educated individual on the subject. This source is about the role of the Civil War in shaping the modern US government. I used this source for a quote from Richard Bensel about the state of the American government before the Civil War, helping to justify how the Emancipation Proclamation was a turning point.
“Civil War Timeline.” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/gett/learn/historyculture/civil-war-timeline.htm. Accessed 22 Jan. 2024.
This timeline is from a national news source which is trusted for current and historical national US information. This is a timeline of the battles and events that occurred during the Civil War from 1860 to mid 1865. I used this in order to describe the most significant battles of the war that portray the impact the Emancipation Proclamation had on the outcome of the war.
“The Emancipation Proclamation.” Google Books, Google, books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=ZaB5NiiIKMcC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=the%2Bemancipation%2Bproclamation%2Bimpacts&ots=4DfYUzq2tk&sig=Hl9MPLk3ziYnN_ELyIfx4QQsfsU#v=onepage&q&f=false. Accessed 22 Jan. 2024.
I accessed this book from a trusted scholarly website and it is written by intelligent scholars on the subject. This source contains three different examinations of the Emancipation Proclamation and its effects and impacts on American life. Harlod Holzer, Edna Greene Medford, and Frank J. Williams are the coauthors of this piece. It helps to further understand the significance of the proclamation.
“File:US Map 1864 Civil War Divisions.Svg.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_map_1864_Civil_War_divisions.svg. Accessed 22 Jan. 2024.
This map is from a trusted website for images and visuals. This source is a description of the divisions of opposing sides of the Civil War. The map depicting the separation on this site is useful for the viewer to visualize where the war was fought and how the north had to attack reconstruction.
“The Five Greatest Slave Rebellions in the United States.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 18 Sept. 2013, www.pbs.org/wnet/african-americans-many-rivers-to-cross/history/did-african-american-slaves-rebel/.
This source is from an organization trusted for historical information. It is a compilation and description of five rebellions of enslaved people in the United States, one of them being Nat Turner's Rebellion. I used this source as an example of the ways enslaved black Americans rebelled against enslavement and how this led to the civil rights movement years later.
Franklin, John Hope. “The Emancipation Proclamation: The Decision and the Writing.” SpringerLink, Palgrave Macmillan US, 1 Jan. 1970, link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-0-230-61556-4_9.
This is a trusted source because it is written by a highly researched scholar and it is published by the Organization of American Historians. Franklin shares the events and thoughts that led to Lincoln making the proclamation. He also explains the context to which the decision was made and what was needed of Lincoln to recall slavery in confederate states. This source displays the impact of the proclamation made and how its making was not easy and was dire.
“Immediate Effects of the Emancipation Proclamation.” Hspveneer, www.portal.hsp.org/unit-plan-items/unit-plan-34. Accessed 22 Jan. 2024.
This is a secondary source from a trust archive for information. It shares the immediate effects of the proclamation. It also examines its direct effects on slavery. This helps to understand the proclamations' significance and importance in directing change.
“Industrialization, Labor, and Life.” Education, education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/industrialization-labor-and-life/. Accessed 22 Jan. 2024.
This article is from a nationally renowned organization for nonfiction information. The article is a description of industrialization and its impact on American life and labor. This source was helpful in explaining the importance of enslaved labor on southern industries and how they suffered after losing it due to the Emancipation Proclamation.
“Industry and Economy during the Civil War (U.S. National Park Service).” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/articles/industry-and-economy-during-the-civil-war.htm. Accessed 22 Jan. 2024.
This historical analysis is from a government website. It is a description of the US industries and economy before, during, and after the Civil War. This source helped to better explain the impact of slavery on the southern economy and how the most economically prosperous region of the country shifted from the south to the north.
“Legal Highlight: The Civil Rights Act of 1964.” DOL, www.dol.gov/agencies/oasam/civil-rights-center/statutes/civil-rights-act-of-1964#:~:text=In%201964%2C%20Congress%20passed%20Public,hiring%2C%20promoting%2C%20and%20firing. Accessed 22 Jan. 2024.
This definition is trusted because it comes from a government organization. This source is a highlight and summary of the Civil Rights Act. I used this source for its definition of the Civil Rights Act, a legislative action derived from the Emancipation Proclamation.
Magazine, Smithsonian. “A Deeper Look at the Politicians Who Passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964.” Smithsonian.Com, Smithsonian Institution, 30 June 2014, www.smithsonianmag.com/history/deep-look-politicians-passed-civil-rights-act-1964-180951799/.
This image was taken from a trusted historical website. The site describes the Civil Rights Act and the impact many politicians had on it. This photo helps the viewer to see the amount of work put into the act and the backing behind it as most of the politicians depicted are republicans.
Mouser, Joseph. “The United States Colored Troops (1863-1865) •.” •, 12 July 2022, www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/united-states-colored-troops-1863-1865.
This image was taken from a trusted source with information on the history of black Americans. This source describes the troops of Black Americans that joined the Civil War in support of the union. This image helps to provide evidence of the movement of black Americans from the south to the north.
“Nat Turner’s Rebellion.” Bill of Rights Institute, billofrightsinstitute.org/essays/nat-turners-rebellion. Accessed 22 Jan. 2024.
This illustration was taken from an organization that specializes in American history of legislation and civil disobedience. The article is about Nat Turner's rebellion and what led up to it. The illustration describes the events that occurred in the rebellion in the eyes of the white American public and how the rebellion was a significant point in black American history.
“Nat Turner’s Rebellion.” National Museum of African American History and Culture, 12 Aug. 2022, nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/nat-turners-rebellion#:~:text=On%20August%2021%2C%201831%2C%20at,months%20before%20he%20was%20caught.
This description was taken from a trusted educational website on the history on black Americans. This article is a quick description and explanation of Nat Turner's Rebellion. This quote helped to explain the rebellion in detail to show how it helped to construct the Emancipation Proclamation.
“Reconstruction - Civil War End, Changes & Act of 1867.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/reconstruction. Accessed 22 Jan. 2024.
This article is taken off of a trusted historical website for all American history and historical subjects. It is a description and summarization of the reconstruction of the south after the Civil War. I used the article to help describe the role of the union government in reshaping America and how the makeup of the United States drastically changed.
Simonovich, Sarah. “The Industrial Revolution and the Rise of Labor Day.” Petroleum Service Company, Petroleum Service Company, 4 Sept. 2017, petroleumservicecompany.com/blog/industrial-revolution-labor-day/.
This image is from an article written by a well known American industrial company. The source is about the impact of industrialization on the petroleum industry. I used this source for the image depicting the new machinery that was brought into factories and elimination of specialized workers.
“U.S. Slavery: Timeline, Figures & Abolition.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/topics/black-history/slavery#civil-war. Accessed 22 Jan. 2024.
This article is taken from a well known historical site trusted for its wide array of US history. This article is about the history of slavery in the US and how it changed over time. I used this website to help justify the change to US enslavement that was enacted by the Emancipation Proclamation.
“The War in 1862.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., www.britannica.com/event/American-Civil-War/The-war-in-1862. Accessed 22 Jan. 2024.
This source is from a trust encyclopedia website for historical information written by well educated individuals. This source is a summary of some of the battles of the Civil War. I used this source to explain the impact of the Emancipation Proclamation on changing the outcome of the war through the descriptions of the battles.
Winters, Donald L. “Agriculture.” Tennessee Encyclopedia, Tennessee Historical Society, 1 Mar. 2018, tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/agriculture/.
This source is from a trusted encyclopedia website. This article is about agriculture in the United States and its significance on the American economy. I used this source to describe the importance of southern agriculture on the economy and how it was deeply affected by the prohibition of slavery.