The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 during the American Civil War, achieved the formal liberation of enslaved individuals in Confederate-held territories. While it did not immediately free all enslaved people, it symbolized a crucial turning point in the war, reframing the conflict's purpose as a fight against slavery alongside preserving the Union. It also allowed for the recruitment of Black soldiers into the Union Army, bolstering its ranks and contributing to the eventual victory against the Confederacy. The proclamation laid the groundwork for further legislative actions toward abolition, culminating in the 13th Amendment.