World History/America/Civil War

Politics and the Civil War

Emancipation Proclamation

In 1863, Lincoln issued the Emanicaption Proclamation, which freed many of the slaves in the South. This changed the war. This was because now the Union army was fighting for two reasons. They wanted to free slaves as well as conquer the Southern army. It may have stopped England and France from entering the war on the side of the South. It also led to many freed slaves eventually joining the Union Army.

Election of 1864

Lincoln thought that he might not win a second term, because many people in the North thought that the North and the South should make peace. These were referred to as "Copperheads". Lincoln ran against McClellan, who ran on a platform of peace. Lincoln won, again by winning almost all the Northern states. Lincoln's win was helped by Sherman's victory at Atlanta.