What did the Emancipation Proclamation accomplish?

The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, was a pivotal moment in American history. The correct answer focuses on how the Proclamation specifically freed slaves in the Confederacy, which were the states that seceded from the Union. The Proclamation declared that all enslaved individuals in the Confederate states were to be freed, thereby altering the legal status of about 3.1 million enslaved people.

This action was strategic on multiple levels; it aimed to weaken the Confederacy's war effort, as enslaved labor was heavily utilized in supporting the Southern economy and military operations. By freeing slaves in those states, the Proclamation sought to undermine the Confederate rebellion while also allowing for the recruitment of African Americans into the Union Army, further bolstering the Union's forces.

The other options do not align with the historical context of the Emancipation Proclamation. For instance, it did not free slaves in the Northern states, as they were not part of the Confederacy. Additionally, it did not end all forms of slavery in the states that remained loyal to the Union nor did it grant citizenship to former slaves, which were significant issues that would require further legislation and amendments to the Constitution post