What significant action did the Emancipation Proclamation achieve?

The Emancipation Proclamation was a landmark executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War. Its primary significance lies in its directive to free enslaved people in the Confederate states. While this proclamation did not immediately free all enslaved individuals, it fundamentally changed the character of the war and made the abolition of slavery a central goal of the Union war effort.

This proclamation authorized the enlistment of Black soldiers into the Union Army, thereby strengthening the Union's forces and giving enslaved people a chance to fight for their own freedom. The action significantly shifted the war's focus towards not just preserving the Union, but also toward achieving justice and equality, ultimately leading to the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment, which formally abolished slavery throughout the United States.

In contrast, the other choices do not accurately reflect the achievement of the Emancipation Proclamation. The right to vote for women came many years later, with the 19th Amendment in 1920. The Civil War ended with the surrender of the Confederate Army in 1865, after the significant changes introduced by the Emancipation Proclamation. Lastly, the establishment of a national bank occurred much earlier, with the creation of the