Final answer:
The Emancipation Proclamation elicited a range of responses; abolitionists both praised and criticized its limited scope, and some Northerners opposed emancipation due to racist beliefs and economic fears, while it also served as an important war strategy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, elicited diverse reactions from various quarters. While abolitionists welcomed it as a crucial step towards ending slavery, some expressed disappointment because the Proclamation applied only to slaves in Confederate-held territories, not those within Union states. Secretary of State William Seward captured the ambivalence, noting the inconsistency in its application.
Racist sentiments among some Northerners fueled opposition to emancipation, driven by fears of economic competition with freed slaves. Despite its limitations, the Proclamation served as a strategic move, aiming to weaken the Confederacy by targeting its economic foundation and redefining the nature of the Civil War as a moral crusade against slavery. The Emancipation Proclamation marked a significant turning point in the fight against slavery, both as a moral imperative and a military strategy.