Emancipation Proclamation Questions Answer Key

Question: What is the historical significance of the date chosen for the Emancipation Proclamation?

Answer: The Emancipation Proclamation, issued on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War, is historically significant for several reasons. This date symbolized a new beginning, coinciding with the new year. It marked a definitive shift in the Union’s war goals, from solely preserving the Union to also abolishing slavery. The Proclamation’s timing, following the Union victory at Antietam, also gave it added momentum and significance.

Question: How had the Emancipation Proclamation not lived up to its name?

Answer: Although the Emancipation Proclamation was a monumental step, it did not immediately free all slaves. It applied only to states in rebellion, not to border states loyal to the Union or to areas of Confederate states already under Union control. Therefore, its immediate effect on ending slavery was limited.

Question: How did President Lincoln justify the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863?

Answer: President Lincoln justified the Emancipation Proclamation as a war measure. He argued that freeing slaves in the rebelling states weakened the Confederate war effort and strengthened the Union by adding manpower through enlisting African American soldiers.

Question: When was the Emancipation Proclamation and when did Texas surrender?

Answer: The Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863. Texas, the last Confederate state to surrender, did so on June 19, 1865, a date now commemorated as Juneteenth.

Question: Was the Emancipation Proclamation moral or political?

Answer: The Emancipation Proclamation was both a moral and political action. Morally, it was a significant step towards ending slavery. Politically, it aimed to weaken the Confederacy, bolster the Union’s moral standing, and gain foreign support.

Question: How many copies of the Emancipation Proclamation are there?

Answer: There are several original copies of the Emancipation Proclamation. The exact number is not definitively known, but 48 copies were signed by Lincoln for charitable purposes, of which about 26 are known to exist today.

Question: When did the Emancipation Proclamation become effective?

Answer: The Emancipation Proclamation became effective on January 1, 1863.

Question: When did the Emancipation Proclamation go into effect?

Answer: The Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1, 1863.

Question: Is Emancipation Proclamation a law?

Answer: The Emancipation Proclamation was not a law passed by Congress but an executive order issued by President Lincoln. It had the force of law in terms of wartime powers.

Question: Is Emancipation Proclamation italicized?

Answer: Yes, when referring to the document in writing, “Emancipation Proclamation” is typically italicized, as it is the title of a specific historical document.

Question: Is Emancipation Proclamation capitalized?

Answer: Yes, “Emancipation Proclamation” is capitalized as it is the proper name of a significant historical document.

Question: Is Emancipation Proclamation a speech?

Answer: No, the Emancipation Proclamation was not a speech. It was a written executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln.

Question: Is Emancipation Proclamation Gettysburg Address?

Answer: No, the Emancipation Proclamation and the Gettysburg Address are two distinct historical documents. The Gettysburg Address was a speech given by Lincoln in 1863, months after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Question: How long did it take to write the Emancipation Proclamation?

Answer: The process of drafting the Emancipation Proclamation began in summer 1862, with Lincoln issuing the preliminary proclamation in September 1862. The final version was issued on January 1, 1863. So, it took several months to finalize.

Question: Why was the Emancipation Proclamation controversial?

Answer: The Emancipation Proclamation was controversial for several reasons. Some criticized it for not freeing all slaves, others for its potential to incite slave rebellions, and still others for the shift in the Union’s war aims. Its legality and impact on the war effort were also debated.

Question: Why was the Emancipation Proclamation widely attacked when it was?

Answer: The Proclamation faced wide attack due to various reasons, including political opposition in the North, fears of its effects on the economy and society, and concerns about its constitutionality and impact on the war’s direction.

Question: Why was the Emancipation Proclamation difficult to enforce?

Answer: It was difficult to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation in areas still under Confederate control, as the Union had no authority there. Its enforcement depended on the advance of Union troops.

Question: Why was the Emancipation Proclamation significant to the Union?

Answer: The Proclamation was significant to the Union as it shifted the war’s focus to include the abolition of slavery, bolstered moral support, allowed the enlistment of African American troops, and deterred foreign powers from supporting the Confederacy.

Question: What was the Emancipation Proclamation’s purpose?

Answer: The primary purpose of the Emancipation Proclamation was to weaken the Confederacy by freeing slaves within its territory, thereby depriving it of labor and bolstering the Union war effort by enabling the enlistment of African Americans.