What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, specifically targeted enslaved people in the Confederate states, declaring them to be free. This significant executive order aimed to weaken the Confederacy during the Civil War by depriving it of its labor force. It did not, however, free all enslaved individuals across the United States; rather, it was a strategic move that underscored the moral imperative to end slavery and aimed to encourage enslaved people to escape and join the Union Army.

By focusing on the Confederate states, the Proclamation also signaled a shift in the Union's war aims, transforming the fight to preserve the nation into a battle for freedom and human rights. This crucial step paved the way for the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment, which ultimately abolished slavery in the United States.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately relate to the purpose or effects of the Emancipation Proclamation. National Parks, civil rights promotion, and the War of 1812 are unrelated topics that do not reflect the historical significance of this proclamation.