Ending Slavery in the South & Unifying the Nation (College Board AP® US History)

Summary

During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln never gave up his conviction to once again unite the Union. However, by 1863, he understood that slavery could no longer be an element in the makeup of the United States. He made a proclamation showing his new stance concerning slavery. He delivered a short speech to show his desire to reunite the North and the South. His actions during this time shaped the future of the United States.

Emancipation Proclamation & Gettysburg Address

Emancipation Proclamation

• The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Lincoln, on January 1st, 1863

• The proclamation declared that all slaves living in Confederate states were free

  • This did not apply to slaves in Border States (Union states where slavery was still legal) 

• The proclamation was not immediately enforced as the Union had no control over Confederate territory

• The proclamation was significant because:

  • it changed the Civil War into a fight to end slavery, not just to preserve the Union

  • it strengthened the moral cause of the Union

    • It discouraged European powers from supporting the Confederacy, such as Great Britain, where slavery was already abolished

    • Great Britain no longer traded cotton with the South

  • enslaved people in the South ran away to join the Union Army

    • This increased the Union’s manpower

  • it led to the creation of the 13th Amendment in 1864

    • This abolished slavery nationwide

Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863

• The Gettysburg Address was delivered at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, after the Battle of Gettysburg

• It was delivered by Abraham Lincoln

• Key themes of the address include:

  • the Civil War was a test of whether a nation "conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal" could endure

  • it redefined the war’s purpose as not only a fight for the Union but also for freedom and equality

  • This address was seen as a way of unifying the nation

    • Lincoln’s vision for a unified nation was grounded in the principles of democracy and human equality

• The Gettysburg Address was important because:

  • although only 272 words long and lasting 2 minutes, it has become one of the most iconic speeches in American history

  • it reinforced national resolve to continue the war to achieve unity

  • its ideals of liberty and equality continue to shape America’s identity