Analysis of the Emancipation Proclamation Speech

1324 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Lincoln's inaugural speech

The "Emancipation Proclamation" speech was actually intended for most of the people that would free the slaves, not to the slaves. According to Rollyson the proclamation was not intended for the slave, blacks, or former slaves. The “Emancipation Proclamation” speech was during the Antislavery Movement or what some people call it the Abolitionist Movement, during the 1960's. The main leaders of the abolitionist movement were Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglas. The point of Lincoln writing the speech about emancipating the slaves was to free the slaves and win the civil war. Lincoln had written a speech named "The Emancipation Proclamation". He wrote this speech and signed it in January of 1863, in Washington, D.C. The theme of the speech was to teach everyone that everyone, no matter what race should be treated equally. In the "Emancipation Proclamation" speech, Abraham Lincoln motivates his intended audience during the Antislavery movement by using pathos and rhetorical question.

Lincoln presented several examples of why he wrote the “Emancipation Proclamation” speech. The emancipation of the slaves’ speech is about how Abraham Lincoln made an address to the world so that they could free the slaves in the confederate states only. One of the themes in the speech is indicated by Johnson and Guelzo. "From the outset of his presidency, Lincoln wanted to end slavery" (Johnson and Guelzo). This speech is an address that states all slaves in Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia are free. A theme of the "Emancipation Proclamation" speech is that no matter what people may seem like they most of the time want to do what is right. "From the outset of his preside...

... middle of paper ...

...portant movement in this country’s history.

Works Cited

Gross, Terry. “Lincoln’s Evolving Thoughts on Slavery, and Freedom.” eLibrary. Proquest LLC, n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.

Johnson, Michael, and Allen C. Guelzo. “Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation: The End of Slavery in America.” Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association. Michigan Publishing, n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.

Lincoln, Abraham. “Emancipation Proclamation.” Speech. Washington D.C. 22 Sept. 1862. Emancipation Proclamation. Abraham Lincoln Online. Web. 29 Jan. 2014.

M., James. “How President Lincoln Decided to Issue the Emancipation Proclamation.” eLibrary. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Mar. 2014.

Majerol, Veronica. “The Emancipation Proclamation.” eLibrary. Proquest LLC, n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.

Rollyson, Carl. “Emancipation Proclamation Audience.” Milestone Content. Schlager Group, n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.

Show More
Related

  • Frederick Douglass And Malala Yousafzai

    648 Words  | 2 Pages

    Douglas also tried to get women to get the right to vote so he spoke out at conventions. The text also quotes, “President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation which began January 1st, 1863, freed all slaves in the south.” While speaking at conventions and conferences, Douglass worked hand in hand with President Lincoln. While working with him, Frederick got him to support anti-slavery. By doing this, all slaves in the south were released and became

    Read More

  • Abraham Lincoln vs the Radical Republicans

    2600 Words  | 6 Pages

    Abraham Lincoln is known as the President who helped to free the slaves, lead the Union to victory over the confederates in the American Civil War, preserve the union of the United States and modernize the economy. The Emancipation Proclamation, issued through Presidential constitutional authority on January 1st, 1863, declared that all slaves in the ten remaining slave states were to be liberated and remain liberated. The Emancipation Proclamation freed between three and four million slaves, however, since it was a Presidential constitutional authority and not though congress, the Emancipation Proclamation failed to free slaves in Border States like Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky and Missouri. Essentially, states that were under Federal Government and loyal to the Union did not have their slaves liberated; Lincoln even stating “When it took effect in January 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation freed 3.1 million of the nation's 4 million slaves.” Some argue Lincoln issued this Proclamation in an attempt to satisfy the demands of Radical Republicans, members of a group within the Republican Party. Radical Republicans were a group of politicians who strongly...

    Read More

  • Abraham Lincoln and the Kansas-Nebraska Act

    1503 Words  | 4 Pages

    Abraham Lincoln’s original views on slavery were formed through the way he was raised and the American customs of the period. Throughout Lincoln’s influential years, slavery was a recognized and a legal institution in the United States of America. Even though Lincoln began his career by declaring that he was “anti-slavery,” he was not likely to agree to instant emancipation. However, although Lincoln did not begin as a radical anti-slavery Republican, he eventually issued his Emancipation Proclamation, which freed all slaves and in his last speech, even recommended extending voting to blacks. Although Lincoln’s feeling about blacks and slavery was quite constant over time, the evidence found between his debate with Stephen A. Douglas and his Gettysburg Address, proves that his political position and actions towards slavery have changed profoundly.

    Read More

  • The Real Heroes of Slavery in the United States

    1983 Words  | 4 Pages

    As a child in elementary and high school, I was taught that President Abraham Lincoln was the reason that African slaves were freed from slavery. My teachers did not provide much more information than that. For an African American student, I should have received further historical information than that about my ancestors. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity or desire to research slavery on my own until college. And with my eagerness and thirst for more answers concerning my African American history, I set out to console my spirit, knowledge, and self-awareness of my ancestors’ history. I received the answers that my brain, mind, and soul need. Although Abraham Lincoln signed the 13th Amendment of the United States Constitution, courageous African American slaves were the real heroes and motivation of the movement.

    Read More

  • The 1787 Constitutional Convention

    1940 Words  | 4 Pages

    Lincoln, Abraham. The Emancipation Proclamation. U.S. National Archives & Records Administaration. Web. 05 Dec. 2009.

    Read More

  • Lincoln Inaugural Address Analysis

    1028 Words  | 3 Pages

    Reading Lincoln’s first Inaugural Address, one wouldn’t think he would be the president to end slavery.Speaking on outlawing slavery, he says,“I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so.” At the time, Lincoln wasn’t worried about slavery,

    Read More

  • The Great Emancipator Analysis

    1296 Words  | 3 Pages

    Lincoln declared that “all persons held as slaves” in areas in rebellion “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” Not only liberate slaves in the border slave states, but the President has purposely made the proclamation in all places in the South where the slaves were existed. While the Emancipation Proclamation was an important turning point in the war. It transformed the fight to preserve the nation into a battle for human freedom. According the history book “A People and a Nation”, the Emancipation Proclamation was legally an ambiguous document, but as a moral and political document it had great meaning. It was a delicate balancing act because it defined the war as a war against slavery, not the war from northern and southern people, and at the same time, it protected Lincoln’s position with conservatives, and there was no turning

    Read More

  • The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863

    1543 Words  | 4 Pages

    Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 during the civil war, as main goal to win the war. Some historians argued that it was based on feelings towards slaves because not only it freed slaves in the South; it was also a huge step for the real abolition of slavery in the United States. While other historians argued that it was a military tactic because it strengthened the Union army, because the emancipated slaves were joining the Union thus providing a larger manpower than the Confederacy . The Emancipation Proclamation emancipated slaves only in the Confederacy and did not apply to the Border-states and the Union states.

    Read More

  • Essay On The Compromise Of 1850

    1469 Words  | 3 Pages

    Although slavery was abolished in other territories and states, it was not fully abolished in the South. It was far more than the idea of just being able to buy slaves and sell slaves in D.C. area. The following of the bill concerning abolition of slavery in D.C. introduced Emancipation Proclamation. The proclamation which also helped free slaves in a different way by issuing and freeing slavery in the South where no control was imposed. Abraham Lincoln freed his slaves along with the Emancipation Proclamation when issued in 1862.

    Read More

  • Abraham Lincoln: The Great Emancipation

    1764 Words  | 4 Pages

    In a speech that Lincoln gave prior to his presidency, we can see how ambiguous his stance on slavery truly was. This speech, known as the ‘House Divided’ speech, was given on the 16th of June, 1858, and outlined his beliefs regarding secession, but did not solidify the abolition of slavery as his main goal. Lincoln states that the nation “could not endure, permanently half slave and half free,” and that the slavery will either cease to exist, or will encompass all states lawfully (Lincoln). At this point in his life, Lincoln’s primary concern is clearly with the preservation of the nation.

    Read More

  • Essay On The Emancipation Proclamation

    770 Words  | 2 Pages

    Lincoln had a preliminary proclamation back in September 22, 1862. The reason President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation was because, "slaves in Confederate states which were not back in the union by then would be free, but slaves in the border states were not affected. The president knew the proclamation was a temporary military measure and only congress could remove slave permanently, but had the satisfaction of seeing the 13th Amendment pass a few months before his death." In other words Lincoln wanted to give slave states their rights of freedom, but the slaves along the border wouldn 't get that right of freedom because of where they were located and who they were for. He hoped the 13th amendment would back up his plan of the emancipation proclamation. President Lincolns philosophy left such a great remark on the people of the world. It was said by many different journalists of the civil war that Lincoln was, " a man of profound feeling, just and firm principles, and incorruptible

    Read More

  • Benefit Of The Emancipation Proclamation

    670 Words  | 2 Pages

    On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation; as the country headed toward the third year of the civil war. This proclamation stated: “that all persons held as slaves are, and hence forward shall be free,” however this only applied to the states that were no longer part of the union, leaving slavery untouched in other states. However the Emancipation Proclamation was needed to benefit African Americans.

    Read More

  • Abraham Lincoln: The Great Emancipator

    1269 Words  | 3 Pages

    The issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation and the passage of the 13th amendment are two of Lincoln’s most influential documents enacted during his presidency. The Emancipation Proclamation “...declared over three million slaves in the rebel states of the Confederacy to be ‘thenceforward and forever free’...”(Guelzo). This action eventually took the country to the final abolition of slavery when the 13th amendment was introduced, declaring: “Neither slavery

    Read More

  • The Emancipation Proclamation

    1746 Words  | 4 Pages

    No doubt, famous historical figure Abraham Lincoln was a key figure for the United States during its Civil War. Whenever he’s spoken of in the educational system, he’s known as the man who freed the slaves. During Lincoln’s presidency, he implemented an order that would forever affect the slaves and the outcome of the Civil War. On September 22, 1862, he released the preliminary announcement for the Emancipation Proclamation. It eventually went into full effect on January 1st, 1863, during the second year of the Civil War. As President Lincoln signed the proclamation on New Year 's day in his office, he quoted, “I never felt more certain, that I was doing right, than signing this paper.”

    Read More

  • The Emancipation Proclamation And Its Consequences

    1688 Words  | 4 Pages

    During his election campaign and throughout the early years of the Civil War, Lincoln vehemently denied the rumour that he would mount an attack on slavery. At the outbreak of fighting, he pledged to 'restore the Union, but accept slavery where it existed', with Congress supporting his position via the Crittendon-Johnson Resolutions. However, during 1862 Lincoln was persuaded for a number of reasons that Negro emancipation as a war measure was both essential and sound. Public opinion seemed to be going that way, Negro slaves were helping the Southern war effort, and a string of defeats had left Northern morale low. A new moral boost to the cause might give weary Union soldiers added impetus in the fight. Furthermore, if the Union fought against slavery, Britain and France could not help the other side, since their 'peculiar institution' was largely abhorred in both European nations. Having eased the American public into the idea, through speeches that hinted at emancipation, Lincoln finally signed the Proclamation on January 1st 1863, releasing all slaves behind rebel lines. Critics argued that the proclamation went little further than the Second Confiscation Act and it conveniently failed to release prisoners behind Union lines. Nevertheless, Henry Adams summed up public reaction to the Proclamation as an 'almost convulsive reaction in our favour'.

    Read More

More about Analysis of the Emancipation Proclamation Speech

Open Document