3. The word slave or slavery were never mentioned in the US constitution. However, there were some implications in a few parts regarding the matter of slavery. Therefore, even though the constitution didn’t mention slavery, the document still supported the institution of slavery in several parts including the three-fifths compromise, the slave trade, and the fugitive-slave law. Starting with the three-fifths compromise, the document from appendix B section 2 states that, “Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for …show more content…
President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which states the freedom of people held as slaves. So, were the African Americans practically free according to the emancipation proclamation in 1863? Not quite, despite the way that this decision took into freeing the slaves, it was limited at the time to certain states. Also, it was more of a fundamental change in the goals of this war. As the war started, President Lincoln had the purpose of saving the union no matter the state of slavery abolished or not. However, by issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, it was a fundamental change and it became clear that the war would result in freeing the slaves. Therefore, Issuing the proclamation in 1863 meant hope for the African American community. In practical terms, it meant that their freedom is conditioned on winning the war. That doesn’t mean this decision was meaningless. On the contrary, issuing the emancipation proclamation did secure the right for the slaves who fought for their freedom from the beginning of the war and it gave hope for the communities that are still under control in the …show more content…
Therefore, the overall picture is that the proclamation gave hope and changed the result of the war into freeing the slaves, but that didn’t happen immediately in 1863. As in the confederate states, there was lack of army and lack in the enforcing of this decision. Also, the proclamation didn’t apply immediately in border states, because they weren’t rebellion. In conclusion, the Emancipation Proclamation meant hope for the African American community in 1863, but it didn’t mean they were free. It meant that their rights were saved and that the war would result in freeing the