Emancipation Proclamation
African Americans Are Freed
In the summer of 1962 Lincoln had made up his mind to emancipate, free, all African Americans. He believed by doing so the French and British would be less likely to aid the South through the war. African Americans in the South helped farmers and plantation owners go into battle and still ear money by the slaves working the plantation. So he would not look desperate, Lincoln announced the freeing of enslaved people on September 22, 1862, only five days after the Union troops were victorious at the Battle of Antietam. The Emancipation Proclamation was signed on January 1, 1836 and stated. . .