The Emancipation Proclamation Facts & Worksheets

The Emancipation Proclamation or Proclamation 95 was the executive order signed by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. It was issued during the Civil War, giving millions of enslaved Africans their freedom.

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Table of Contents

See the fact file below for more information on The Emancipation Proclamation or alternatively, you can download our 22 page the Emancipation Proclamation worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information:

Historical Background

• In the 17th and 18th century, slavery was widely practiced in the United States. The first African slaves were brought to the British colony of Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619.
• Historians estimate that over 7 million African slaves were shipped to the New World by the end of the 18th century.
• African slaves mostly worked in tobacco, rice and indigo plantations in Maryland, Virginia, and the coast of Georgia.
• In 1793, Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, which transformed many colonies in the South into vast cotton plantations. This transition amplified the need for slave labor.
• By the late 18th century, slavery in northern states was abolished while it was widespread in the south.
• In 1808, the slave trade was outlawed by Congress but domestic slave trading continued, and the black population tripled.
• A few slave rebellions occurred in Charleston, Richmond and Southampton County. The most notable was led by Nat Turner in 1831. Thereafter, the abolitionist movement gained prominence in the North. Escaped slave like Frederick Douglass and white supporters including William Lloyd Garrison and Harriet Beecher Stowe used print to fight for black freedom.
• On March 4, 1861, Abraham Lincoln took his oath of office as the 16th President of the United States. His election contributed to the secession of Southern states. Lincoln was a Republican who opposed slavery.

Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation

• On April 12, 1861, the Civil War broke out when Confederate troops attacked Union soldiers at Fort Sumter, South Carolina. The issue of slavery was one of the causes of the war.
• Later on, the growing call for abolition was used as a military strategy for Lincoln and his Union troops.
• After the Union victory at Antietam, Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862.
• On January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation was formally issued by President Lincoln. It states that all enslaved people in the lands held by the Confederacy should be free. In addition, freed slaves could be part of the United States’ military forces, but would not automatically be recognized as citizens.
• Despite the proclamation, some abolitionists were not satisfied due to its limitations. A huge celebration was held at the Music Hall in Boston, which was attended by white supporters like Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Harriet Beecher Stowe.
• Many believed that the issuance of the proclamation prevented the involvement of foreign nations (France and Britain) in the Civil War.

Aftermath

• Few months after the Emancipation Proclamation, the United States War Department issued General Orders No. 143 creating the United States Colored Troops (USCT). At the end of the war, over 200,000 Africans-Americans served the Union army.
• The proclamation did not abolish slavery in the United States, the 13th Amendment did. On January 31, 1865, the 13th Amendment was passed by Congress and ratified on December 6, 1865.

The Emancipation Proclamation Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Emancipation Proclamation across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use The Emancipation Proclamation worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Proclamation 95 which was the executive order signed by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. It was issued during the Civil War, giving millions of enslaved Africans their freedom.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

• The Emancipation Proclamation Facts
• The Great Emancipator
• I Proclaim!
• It’s Mapping Time!
• Time Hopping
• Black History
• Proclamation of Freedom
• Milestones and Documents
• Presidents and Slavery
• Ink Emancipation
• Multicultural America

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Emancipation Proclamation?

The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War. It declared that all slaves in the Confederate states “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.”

Why did Lincoln issue the Emancipation Proclamation?

Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation as a war measure to undermine the Confederacy’s ability to fight by depriving them of a large portion of their labor force. Additionally, it also aimed to change the focus of the war from preserving the Union to abolishing slavery.

Did the Emancipation Proclamation immediately free all slaves in the United States?

No, the Emancipation Proclamation only applied to slaves in states that were in rebellion against the Union, which did not include border states that were loyal to the Union. It also did not apply to slaves in parts of the Confederacy that had already been captured by Union forces.

Was the Emancipation Proclamation enforced?

The Emancipation Proclamation was not immediately enforced, as it did not have the immediate effect of freeing any slaves. It was enforced by the Union army as they defeated Confederate forces and gained control of the areas where slaves were held.

What was the impact of the Emancipation Proclamation?

The Emancipation Proclamation had a significant impact on the Civil War and on the eventual abolition of slavery in the United States. It also set a precedent for the use of executive power to make significant changes during times of crisis. It also changed the focus of the war from preserving the Union to abolishing slavery, which led to the 13th amendment of the US Constitution, which abolished slavery throughout the United States.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.