What were the reasons that President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation was more than a war measure?

Answer 1

The "war measure" rational for President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation was more then that In choosing his main reason as a war measure was true enough, however, Lincoln did not emphasize that emancipation would bring the war to the economy of the South, or that emancipation would strike at the root cause of the war. The war measure of emancipation would clear the way for military service by former slaves.Putting his reasons that way had clear cut advantages. First it was undeniably derived from the concrete military necessities Lincoln could invoke in order to end slavery.

Before the passing of the 13th amendment, Lincoln had no power to end slavery in the slave states except on grounds of military necessity.

It may or may not have served a military interest to break the economic system of the South, or to provoke a slave insurrection, but the likelihood was that quavering public opinion in the border states might have provoked secession. He therefore had been very cautious until after the Battle of Antietam which appeared to solve the potential Maryland disaster if it seceded.

Also, as was seen in the Spring of 1863, even prior to that there was a shortage of voluntary enlistments. By forging ahead on the military necessity Lincoln evaded both a possible challenge from the Taney Supreme Court and put the onus on emancipation opponents to come up with an alternative source of soldiers. This happened in the Spring of 1863 via conscription, but that was highly controversial.

Lincoln's method made emancipation irreversible. If Lincoln freed slaves for economic reasons, then it would have been easier to enslave them after the war to rebuild the economy.

It would be impossible to re-enslave Blacks, however, who chose to take up arms for the Union against the South. Also, it would make a case for former slave citizenship.

This however was not solid and Lincoln's favoring colonization of Freed Blacks made his views on citizenship questionable.

The so-called argument of English citizens not being in favor of slavery, carries no currency at all.

In fact, full voting rights for all English citizens would wait until 1928 And that after WW 1..

Answer 2

It was not possible to rescind after the war.