Why did Lincoln finally issue the Emancipation Proclamation?

In July 1862, Lincoln informed his cabinet that he would issue an emancipation proclamation but that it would exempt the so-called border states, which had slaveholders but remained loyal to the Union. His cabinet persuaded him not to make the announcement until after a Union victory. read more

The Emancipation Proclamation was meant only to free slaves in the confederacy when they would become occupied by union forces. Slave states still loyal to the Union that had slaves did not have to free them. As for why Lincoln issued it: It was a military tactic meant to crush the economy of the Confederacy after the battle of Antietam. read more

The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by Lincoln during the Civil War so that slaves would be freed. The only slaves that were affected by this were the ones in the United States, not the ones in the Confederacy. read more