What document, issued by Abraham Lincoln in 1862, declared freedom for all slaves in Confederate states?

The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by Abraham Lincoln in 1862, is the correct answer because it specifically declared the freedom of all slaves in the Confederate states that were in rebellion against the Union during the American Civil War. This executive order was significant for several reasons. It not only redefined the purpose of the war to include the fight against slavery but also paved the way for the eventual abolition of slavery throughout the entire United States. By declaring freedom for enslaved individuals in the Confederate territories, Lincoln aimed to undermine the economic foundations of the Confederacy, which relied heavily on slave labor.

In contrast, the Gettysburg Address, while a powerful speech that reaffirmed the principles of liberty and equality, did not have the same immediate legal impact as the Emancipation Proclamation. The Declaration of Independence, authored in 1776, articulated the American colonies' reasons for seeking independence from Britain and did not address the issue of slavery directly. The Bill of Rights, ratified in 1791, consists of the first ten amendments to the Constitution and primarily protects individual liberties, but it does not specifically pertain to the issue of slavery or the status of enslaved people.

Therefore, the Emancipation Proclamation stands out as a landmark