What was the main outcome of the Emancipation Proclamation?

The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, is primarily recognized for its role in freeing enslaved individuals in the Confederate states. This executive order declared that all enslaved people in states that were in rebellion against the Union were to be set free. While it did not immediately free all enslaved individuals, it fundamentally changed the nature of the Civil War by transforming it into a fight not only for the Union but also for freedom.

This proclamation signaled a crucial turning point in American history, as it laid the groundwork for the eventual abolition of slavery nationwide with the adoption of the Thirteenth Amendment in December 1865. By announcing the freedom of slaves, the Emancipation Proclamation also allowed for African American men to enlist in the Union Army, further strengthening the fight against the Confederacy and contributing to the Union's eventual victory. Although the other options pertain to significant aspects of the Civil War or social justice, the central impact of the Emancipation Proclamation is best characterized by its aim to emancipate enslaved individuals.