Emancipation Proclamation

Reproduction of the Emancipation Proclamation

The Emancipation Proclamation, or Proclamation 95, was a presidential proclamation and executive order issued by United States President Abraham Lincoln effective January 1, 1863. It changed the legal status under federal law of more than 3.5 million enslaved African Americans in the Confederate states from slave to free. As soon as a slave escaped the control of the Confederate government, either by running away across Union lines or through the advance of federal troops, the slave was permanently free. Ultimately, the Union victory brought the proclamation into effect in all of the former Confederacy. The remaining slaves, those in the areas not in revolt, were freed by state action, or by the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in December 1865. Wikipedia

Learn more about the Emancipation Proclamation through historical newspapers from our archives. Explore newspaper articles, headlines, images, and other primary sources below.

Articles and Clippings about the Emancipation Proclamation

1861 opinion piece argues that an emancipation proclamation would be ineffective against the South Wed, Sep 4, 1861 – Page 4 · The Indiana State Sentinel (Indianapolis, Indiana) · Newspapers.comBritish editorial speculates on likelihood and potential effects of an emancipation proclamation Mon, Sep 30, 1861 – Page 18 · The Times (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.comLincoln's message approving the bill to emancipate enslaved people in Washington DC in April 1862 Thu, Apr 17, 1862 – 10 · New York Daily Herald (New York, New York) · Newspapers.comNewspaper prints Horace Greeley's "The Prayer of Twenty Millions" and President Lincoln's response Fri, Sep 5, 1862 – Page 1 · The Fremont Weekly Journal (Fremont, Ohio) · Newspapers.comNewspaper prints text of the preliminary September 1862 Emancipation Proclamation Tue, Sep 23, 1862 – Page 1 · Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan) · Newspapers.comEditorial in support of the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation issued in September 1862 Tue, Sep 23, 1862 – 2 · The Daily Green Mountain Freeman (Montpelier, Vermont) · Newspapers.comArticle reports stances of various members of Lincoln's Cabinet on the Emancipation Proclamation Fri, Oct 3, 1862 – 4 · Alexandria Gazette (Alexandria, Virginia) · Newspapers.comEditorial discusses how Emancipation Proclamation may affect the border states Sat, Oct 4, 1862 – 1 · Vermont Journal (Windsor, Vermont) · Newspapers.comEditorial critical of Abraham Lincoln's motives in issuing the Emancipation Proclamation Wed, Oct 8, 1862 – 3 · The Weekly Advertiser (Montgomery, Alabama) · Newspapers.comBritish letter to the editor argues that Emancipation Proclamation should have been issued earlier Sat, Oct 18, 1862 – 7 · The Leeds Mercury (Leeds, West Yorkshire, England) · Newspapers.comEditorial excerpt compares Emancipation Proclamation to the Declaration of Independence Fri, Oct 24, 1862 – 2 · Burlington Daily Times (Burlington, Vermont) · Newspapers.comEditorial argues that goal of Emancipation Proclamation is to prevent European intervention in war Fri, Oct 24, 1862 – Page 1 · Natchez Daily Courier (Natchez, Mississippi) · Newspapers.comEditorial gives opinion that Emancipation Proclamation will divide the North Wed, Dec 31, 1862 – 1 · Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois) · Newspapers.comNewspaper prints official Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863 Fri, Jan 2, 1863 – 2 · Richmond Weekly Palladium (Richmond, Indiana) · Newspapers.comAccount of Black community in South Carolina celebrating news of the Emancipation Proclamation Wed, Jan 7, 1863 – 5 · New York Daily Herald (New York, New York) · Newspapers.comJanuary 1863 estimate of number of enslaved people "freed" due to Emancipation Proclamation Fri, Jan 23, 1863 – 6 · The Newcastle Weekly Courant (Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England) · Newspapers.comExcerpt from President Abraham Lincoln's message regarding the effects of Emancipation Proclamation Tue, Dec 15, 1863 – 1 · Lancaster Intelligencer (Lancaster, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.com1865 editorial comparing opposition to Black suffrage to opposition to Emancipation Proclamation Sat, Jul 15, 1865 – 2 · The Sunbury Gazette (Sunbury, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comExcerpt from a speech by Frederick Douglass on the Emancipation Proclamation's 20th anniversary Sat, Jan 6, 1883 – Page 2 · The Washington Bee (Washington, District of Columbia) · Newspapers.comPres. of the National Afro-American Council shares thoughts on the 43rd anniversary of emancipation Sat, Dec 29, 1906 – Page 4 · The Washington Bee (Washington, District of Columbia) · Newspapers.comA pastor describes experiences at the time of emancipation & continuing inequality 50 years later Sat, Jan 18, 1913 – Page 1 · The Broad Ax (Salt Lake City, Utah) · Newspapers.com1941 opinion piece critical of emancipation celebrations Sat, Jan 4, 1941 – Page 12 · The New York Age (New York, New York) · Newspapers.comOpinion piece details notable omissions in Emancipation Proclamation and flaws in efficacy Sat, Nov 3, 1962 – Page 13 · The Pittsburgh Courier (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comExcerpt from a 2014 article about the history of the Emancipation Proclamation Sun, Oct 26, 2014 – Page A6 · Reno Gazette-Journal (Reno, Nevada) · Newspapers.com