New York Times
January 1st, 1863
The Emancipation Proclamation
After decades of slavery and mistreatment of African Americans, our hard effort in the abolitionist movement paid off. Today is a day that will make a huge turning point in history. On this historical day, our strong leader, President Lincoln, issued the 'Emancipation Proclamation'. "All persons held as slaves within any state or designated part of a State the people whereof shall then be in a rebellion against the United States shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free". Lincoln began this glorious proclamation freeing all slaves within all the rebellious southern states. A revolt was always a great fear for southern whites, and a black uprising would potentially destroy the southern economy and the idea that blacks were the inferior to their white masters. Without expansion, the black minority would quickly become the majority, leaving the South running in fear. It seems that President Lincoln realized the great power weapon slavery could be and sought away to use it against the South. His Emancipation Proclamation did just that. After Lincoln issued this decree, most of us assumed that the southern slaves would finally be free, but we sadly misinterpreted it. The former slaves here in the North are free, but the majority of African Americans are still being held as slaves by the rebel Confederate army in the South. Although all slaves might not be fully free, this proclamation could be nothing but great news for the Union. This war is no longer a fight against discord in the United States, but also against slavery! Hopefully this will give us the strength and drive to finish the war victoriously!