Hi, I'm a grade 11 student studying American History. Currently I'm doing a project on the Civil War, and I have a question regarding the Emancipation Proclamation.
On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed the slaves that were in the Confederate region. But, since the South declared themselves a separate country, how could Lincoln have the authority to free the slaves there. Those slaves became the "property" of Confederate citizens, and therefore have no connection to the United States. It would be like Canada creating laws in Russia; it can't be done, because Canada does not have the right to govern in Russia.
On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed the slaves that were in the Confederate region. But, since the South declared themselves a separate country, how could Lincoln have the authority to free the slaves there. Those slaves became the "property" of Confederate citizens, and therefore have no connection to the United States. It would be like Canada creating laws in Russia; it can't be done, because Canada does not have the right to govern in Russia.