Final answer:
The Emancipation Proclamation redefined the Civil War by making the abolition of slavery a central war aim, allowed the recruitment of African American troops, and hindered potential British support for the Confederacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Emancipation Proclamation as a Turning Point in the Civil War
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which is considered a turning point in the Civil War. It altered the war's objective, now centering on the abolition of slavery as a crucial war aim, and was a stride towards changing the United States' character. The proclamation did not immediately free all slaves; it specifically targeted areas in rebellion and excluded those in border states and areas under Union control. However, it symbolically reaffirmed the Union's moral stance against slavery and allowed for the recruitment of African American soldiers into the Union Army, significantly bolstering its ranks.
By including the abolition of slavery as part of the Union cause, the proclamation also deterred British support for the Confederacy, aligning the Union's goals with the anti-slavery sentiment prevalent in Britain at the time. President Lincoln saw the proclamation as a military necessity to weaken the Confederate war effort, and it was also hoped that endorsing emancipation would garner support from individuals who would back abolition if it promised a Union victory.
The Emancipation Proclamation, therefore, is seen as pivotal, as it redefined the Civil War, facilitated the enlistment of Black troops, and galvanized the North while complicating international relations for the Confederacy.