<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The Emancipation Proclamation, or Proclamation 95, was a presidential proclamation and executive order issued by United States President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863 . It changed the federal legal status of more than 3.5 million enslaved African Americans in the designated areas of the South from slave to free . As soon as a slave escaped the control of the Confederate government, by running away or through advances of federal troops, the former slave became free in fact . Ultimately, the rebel surrender liberated and resulted in the proclamation's application to all of the designated former slaves . It did not cover slaves in Union areas that were freed by state action (or 3 years later by the 13th amendment in December 1865). It was issued as a war measure during the American Civil War, directed to all of the areas in rebellion and all segments of the executive branch (including the Army and Navy) of the United States . </P> <P> The Proclamation ordered the freedom of all slaves in ten states . Because it was issued under the president's authority to suppress rebellion (war powers), it necessarily excluded areas not in rebellion, but still applied to more than 3.5 million of the 4 million slaves . The Proclamation was based on the president's constitutional authority as commander in chief of the armed forces; it was not a law passed by Congress . The Proclamation was issued in January 1863 after U.S government issued a series of warnings in the summer of 1862 under the Second Confiscation Act, allowing Southern Confederate supporters 60 days to surrender, or face confiscation of land and slaves . The Proclamation also ordered that suitable persons among those freed could be enrolled into the paid service of United States' forces, and ordered the Union Army (and all segments of the Executive branch) to "recognize and maintain the freedom of" the ex-slaves . The Proclamation did not compensate the owners, did not outlaw slavery, and did not grant citizenship to the ex-slaves (called freedmen). It made the eradication of slavery an explicit war goal, in addition to the goal of reuniting the Union . </P>

What was the emancipation proclamation in the civil war