What was the purpose of the Emancipation Proclamation?

The purpose of the Emancipation Proclamation was to declare all slaves in Confederate states free. Issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, this pivotal document aimed to undermine the Confederate war effort by freeing slaves in areas still in rebellion against the Union. Lincoln's proclamation not only redefined the Civil War as a struggle for freedom but also allowed for the enlistment of freed slaves into the Union Army, bolstering its ranks.

This moment was significant in transforming the nature of the war from solely a fight for the Union to a fight for human liberty. The Emancipation Proclamation did not free all enslaved people immediately, especially in border states that remained loyal to the Union, but it strategically targeted the areas in rebellion, making it a crucial step toward the eventual abolition of slavery with the ratification of the 13th Amendment.

The other options encompass important civil rights issues, but they are distinct from the primary aim of the Emancipation Proclamation, which was specifically focused on emancipation during the Civil War.