Emancipation Proclamation

Why does the Emancipation Proclamation only apply to the rebelling states and areas versus abolishing slavery as a whole? Why does Lincoln not order complete abolition?

Lincoln declares that formerly enslaved peoples should not partake in violence unless for self-defense. Why do you think he includes this directive? How might Black people during the time react to this message?

What does Lincoln mean when he argues that the proclamation is “a fit and necessary war measure for suppressing said rebellion” (Paragraph 4)? How does emancipation work as a military strategy, and what is the intention behind it being used in that way? What orders within the text demonstrate that it is a military strategy?

Lincoln says that formerly enslaved people should “labor faithfully for reasonable wages” (Paragraph 7). What is the significance of this statement, specifically what does it mean to labor faithfully? How might this statement reflect Lincoln’s thoughts on freedom and labor?

In what ways does justice function within the proclamation, especially when justifying the freedom of enslaved peoples? How is it used to demand actions from the military, government, and areas in rebellion?

How might the freedom and abilities gained by formerly enslaved peoples relate to nationalism? How would you define US nationalism? What role does it play in this document?

The Emancipation Proclamation is often confused for being the document that freed enslaved people even though it only applied to the rebelling states. Why do you think people confuse the proclamation with the 13th Amendment? What makes the proclamation more noteworthy?

The 13th Amendment ratified the abolishment of slavery within the US, “except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted” (Paragraph 1). Why do you think the US wanted to maintain slavery as a punishment? In the present, do you think that we should amend this?