Emancipation

Throughout American history, Abraham Lincoln has often been credited with the act of ending slavery, however, when taking into consideration a broader historical context, it must be noted that the credit does not belong to Lincoln alone.

The Emancipation Proclamation is often cited as the act responsible for the liberation of the slaves, but when closer inspected, it did not at all bring about the change that it is credited for. The Emancipation Proclamation called for the liberation of the slaves existing in states that were in rebellion with the Union, neglecting to address the slaveholding states that were already a part of the Union. While this was a strategic tactic by Lincoln in attempt to keep peace with the slave states in the North, the fact remains that the Emmancipation Proclamation did not bring freedom to the slaves in the way that most people believe it did.

Instead, the ultimate liberation of the slaves was the result of the efforts of the many African Americans who struggled to assert freedom for themselves.  Run aways and slave insurrections enforced the ideals that until that point, were not much more than promises on paper.

Overall, one party can not be given full credit for the prolonged and strenuous task of freeing the millions of slaves in America. The actions and impact of Abraham Lincoln and his presidency brought the issue of emancipation to the forefront of American society, but it took the effort and determination of the slaves themselves to truly achieve that freedom.