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This proclamation declared that all enslaved people in the Confederate states were to be set free. While the Proclamation did not immediately free all enslaved people, as it only applied to Confederate-held territory, it played a significant role in shaping the war's outcome and ultimately led to the liberation of millions of African Americans. President Lincoln justified the Emancipation Proclamation as a military necessity, as it aimed to weaken the Confederate war effort by depriving them of their main source of labor. It also sought to prevent European powers, which had abolished slavery, from intervening on behalf of the Confederacy. The immediate impact of the Proclamation was limited, as it did not apply to Union-held territories or border states that had continued to allow slavery. However, it did inspire enslaved people to flee their captors and seek refuge with Union forces. Additionally, it provided a moral and ideological boost to the Union cause, redefining the purpose of the war as a fight to end slavery. After the war, the Emancipation Proclamation laid the foundation for the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery entirely in the United States. It also marked a pivotal moment in African American history, as it emphasized their fight for liberation and equality. Despite its historical significance, the Emancipation Proclamation remains a subject of debate among historians and scholars. Some argue that it fell short of immediately freeing all enslaved people and its impact was limited. Others view it as a crucial step towards the eventual end of slavery in America and a significant milestone in the broader struggle for civil rights.