What were two limitations of the Emancipation Proclamation?
1 Answer
The Emancipation Proclamation only applied to areas that were actively rebelling, and that it was only applicable in areas where the Union Army was not in control of.
Explanation:
We have to remember that, even though the popular mantra is "The Civil War was about slavery," that is not really true. Lincoln's war was about "preserving the union," not about preserving or creating human equality. Lincoln said on more than on occasion that if he could prevent the war by preserving slavery, he would do that.
Because of that, we have to view the Emancipation Proclamation for what it was: a measure strike at the enemy. The Union needed a shot in the arm to continue the war, and Lincoln's words allowed him to increase the number of soldiers (blacks) in his army, and reduce the people (slaves) who supported the Confederate supply chain. This one proclamation increase the military strength of the north, while diminishing the economic viability of the south. In the southern states, the proclamation stoked the flames of rebellion on plantations, and encouraged slaves to abandon the south entirely for freedom.
It is worth nothing that no slaves were actually considered free until the 13th Amendment was ratified in 1865 after the war was over, even though the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863.
