Answer:
c. A statement issued by Lincoln after the Battle of Antietam which freed the salves in the still rebellious south.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Emancipation Proclamation was a Presidential proclamation or executive order issued by the President that orders the liberty of any slave in the still rebellious southern states. This order was given right after the success of the Battle of Antietam, which was a long-awaited victory for the confederate army under Lincoln.
This declaration orders that from January 1, 1863, all slaves in the Confederate states were to be given free legal status and freed from their slave positions. The document declared that the slaves from those states that were currently at war with the Union "shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free." This was a long drawn decision that would enable the Lincoln government to have some leverage and support from the people.
Thus, the correct answer is option c.