"The Emancipation Proclamation"

Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes the book "The Emancipation Proclamation" by John Hope Franklin, an insightful and detailed look into the Proclamation and its background during the time of the Civil War. It discusses how the book shows that politically, the document was simply what it said it was, a "proclamation" and that it did not actually free the slaves in the South, because the Union did not have jurisdiction there. The author wrote the book to set the record straight on the Emancipation Proclamation since most people still seem to believe the Proclamation set Negroes free, but it really did not, the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution did that in 1865. It concludes by discussing the ramifications of the Proclamation then and now.

From the Paper:

"Politically, the document was simply what it said it was, a "proclamation." It did not actually free the slaves in the South, because the Union did not have jurisdiction there. However, it was a strong message that slavery would no longer be tolerated on Union soil, and a strong message to the Confederacy that their policies would not be tolerated. Militarily, it added soldiers to the Union ranks by allowing Blacks to fight for their very own freedom. "That more than 185,000 slaves as well as free blacks accepted the invitation indicates that those who had been the victims of thralldom [sic] were now among the most enthusiastic freedom fighters" (Franklin). The military aspects of the Proclamation took precedence over the emancipation aspects, because they were the first that could be put into action."

More papers on "The Emancipation Proclamation":

• Analytical Essay # 116182 : "The Emancipation Proclamation: A Political Statement"
• Analytical Essay # 112837 : "Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation"
• Essay # 28049 : "Lincoln, The "Great Emancipator"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: