The First Confiscation Act Of September 1862 - 1900 Words

With this knowledge Congress passed Major General Benjamin F. Butler quick thinking into a policy, the First Confiscation Act, in August of 1861 which stated that the federal government had authority to seize any property owned by the Confederates which included slaves. By March the following year, an Article of War was produced which prohibited any military or naval services from returning run-away or fugitive slaves to their respective masters, nullifying the Fugitive Acts all together. When the Second Confiscation Act was announced in July of 1862 it â€Å"declared ‘forever free’ Confederate-owned slaves who made their way to federal lines or who resided in rebellious territory that fell to federal forces† (Luke and Smith 2014, 14). Also in the bill, was the legitimisation of the â€Å"president to utilise ‘persons of African descent’ in any way that he considered ‘necessary and proper for the suppression of the rebellion’† (Luk e and Smith 2014, 14). Thus the Militia Act of July 1862, which â€Å"gave Lincoln carte blanche† (Luke and Smith 2014, 14) to make use of black resources. Although these acts were issued with the intention of blacks serving as military labour it gave way to many possibilities. The first to act on these possibilities was Major General Jon C. Frà ©mont, in August 1861, who emancipated the slaves of Missouri rebels. By late August, following him, but surpassing freeing slaves, â€Å"Republican U.S. senator and brigadier general James H. ‘Jim’ Lane, a Free-Soiler andShow MoreRelatedAbraham Lincoln And The Civil War1183 Words   |  5 PagesAbraham Lincoln Lizzy Cook HIS 103 17 November 2015 Before the Emancipation Proclamation was passed, the Civil War had been going on for two years. UNION VICTORIES The Emancipation Proclamation was signed on September 22, 1862, but it did not take effect until January 1, 1863 (Emancipation Proclamation 1863). This took place during the Civil War, which was fought between the Union States and the Confederate States of America. The Emancipation Proclamation did not free the slaves, becauseRead MoreThe Legacy Of The American Civil War1030 Words   |  5 Pagesborder slave states would support abolition as a war aim. As a Republican, he wished to eliminate it from the territories as the first step to putting the institution â€Å"in the course of ultimate extinction.† But as president of the United States, Lincoln was destined by the Constitution that protected slavery in any state where citizens wanted it. In September of 1862, after the Union’s victory at Antietam, Lincoln issued a preliminary decree stating that, unless the rebellious states returned toRead MoreThe Emancipation Proclamation And Its Consequences1688 Words   |  7 Pagesthe rumour that he would mount an attack on slavery. At the outbreak of fighting, he pledged to restore the Union, but accept slavery where it existed , with Congress supporting his position via the Crittendon-Johnson Resolutions. However, during 1862 Lincoln was persuaded for a number of reasons that Negro emancipation as a war measure was both essential and sound. Public opinion seemed to be going that way, Negro slaves were helping the Southern war effort, and a string of defeats had left NorthernRead MoreSignificance And Impact Of The Emancipation Proclamation1658 Words   |  7 PagesBattle of Sharpsburg, was a key war battle that was very necessary to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, due to the major Union  ¨victory ¨ against th e Confederacy. The Battle of Antietam took place on September 17, 1862, in Sharpsburg, Maryland. This war was very significant because it was the first battle to take place on Union ground (Sears). In addition, this key war battle helped help give support to Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. For example, Historians at the Council of ForeignRead MoreThe End Of The Civil War1258 Words   |  6 Pagesscouts. Later the U.S. Congress would admit Union troops to seize any property, which included enslaved Africans. This law was call the Confiscation Act, and allowed Africans that were being used, by the Confederates, to be free. Freeing Africans being used by the Confederates, ultimately gave President Lincoln an idea, to free all slaves. On September 22, 1862, Lincoln produced the Emancipation Proclamation. Once again, many people do not know the truth about history. The Emancipation ProclamationRead MoreLincoln s Rights Of Slavery1730 Words   |  7 Pagest hought he did not the given power to end slavery and furthermore because the constitution protected slavery, yet he interfered with this institution after his 1860 election. Though Lincoln had no plan â€Å"to interfere† with slavery when the war started, by 1862 Lincoln understood that in order to save the Union and win the war, he had authority as commander in chief to emancipate all the slaves in the Confederate States, where the states were in a status of rebellion. Abraham Lincoln naturally hated slaveryRead MoreThe Battle Of The Civil War960 Words   |  4 PagesMay 25, 1862 struck panic into the North. The battle took place at Winchester and the â€Å"Confederates drove Bank’s routed division in precipitate flight all the way across the Potomac into Maryland† (McPherson 42). The Confederates were led by â€Å"Stonewall† Jackson, who was known to be very intelligent and sneaky while the Union was being led by Nathaniel Banks who was a â€Å"political general†. Also, one topic that is very crucial to the Civil War is slavery. 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Although by 1862, when slaves went up North, Lincoln was persuaded that abolishment of slavery was essential to the USâ€℠¢s plan and how the military came about in this war strategically, along with what was morally right. Issuing the Emancipation Proclamation was a long and complicated process that it was issued more than once. On September 22, 1862 Lincoln issued a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that as of JanuaryRead MoreAbraham Lincoln vs the Radical Republicans Essay2594 Words   |  11 PagesWhen Missouri, part of the acquisition of land from the French admitted itself into the Union in the year 1819, the state requested the right to be a slave state. Congress responded negatively to Missouri’s request of being a slave state, and for the first time since the drafting of the Declaration of Independence the issue of slavery was greatly debated. A New Hampshire representative commented on how crucial the Missouri decision was, stating â€Å"An opportunity is now presented, if not to diminish, at