Final answer:
The Emancipation Proclamation, signed by Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, declared the freedom of slaves in Confederate states but did not immediately free all slaves. It shifted the Civil War's purpose toward ending slavery and allowed black soldiers to join the Union army, influencing the war's outcome. Civil rights leaders later sought to build on its legacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Emancipation Proclamation is a landmark document in American history that was signed by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. By declaring that all persons held as slaves within the rebellious states ‘shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free,’ Lincoln shifted the Civil War’s objective to include the abolition of slavery. However, it's important to note that while the proclamation held great symbolic value, it did not instantly free all enslaved people, as it only applied to the Confederate states where the Union had no authority at the time.
Despite its limitations, the Emancipation Proclamation had significant impacts. It discouraged the British government from recognizing the southern nationhood and allowed nearly 200,000 black soldiers to join the Union army, contributing to the Union’s advantage in the war. Furthermore, the proclamation set the stage for the eventual end of slavery in the United States.
In the years that followed, civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr., continued to push for equality. President John F. Kennedy, speaking with King, contemplated signing a Second Emancipation Proclamation to mark the centennial of the original proclamation, but ultimately did not do so due to political pressures and the potential loss of support among certain voter demographics.