Final answer:
The primary purpose of the Confiscation Act of 1861 was to authorize the Union to seize property, including enslaved people, that was being used to support the Confederate war effort. This act contributed to the start of legislative changes regarding slavery and provided a foundation for subsequent steps toward emancipation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Confiscation Act of 1861
The primary purpose of the Confiscation Act of 1861 was to serve as a military measure that allowed the Union to seize property used to support the Confederacy during the American Civil War. Under this legislative act, property could be confiscated if it belonged to individuals supporting the rebellion. This included slaves who were used as labor for the Confederate cause. The Act was based on the congressional power to confiscate the property of traitors and was one of the initial steps toward defining the status of enslaved people and curtailing the Confederacy's resources. It allowed the Union army to liberate slaves who came under their control to undermine the economic foundations of the Confederacy.
Additionally, the Act set a precedent for the later issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln. Following the Confiscation Act, Congress continued to pass legislation that affected slavery, such as the abolition of slavery in Washington, D.C., and the prohibition of slavery in the Western territories, leading to the Second Confiscation Act which further extended freedom to the escaped enslaved people. This act also marked the first official authorization to employ African Americans in federal military service.