Page "Reconstruction Era of the United States" Paragraph 48

In July 1862, President Lincoln became convinced that " a military necessity " was needed to strike at slavery in order to win the Civil War for the Union.

The Confiscation Acts were only having a minimal effect to end slavery.

On July 22, he wrote a first draft of the Emancipation Proclamation that freed the slaves in states in rebellion.

Lincoln decided not to release the document until there was a Union victory in the battlefield.

After he showed his cabinet the document, slight alterations were made in the wording.

Then on September 22, 1862, George McClellan defeated Robert E. Lee at Antietam ; the second draft of the Emancipation Proclamation was issued to the public the following day.