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The Emancipation Proclamation is arguably one of the top ten most important documents in the history of the United States; however, it is also one of the most misunderstood. Here are ten facts providing the basics on the proclamation and the history surrounding it.

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Abraham Lincoln became the United States' 16th President in 1861, issuing the Emancipation Proclamation that declared forever free those slaves within the Confederacy in 1863.

Lincoln warned the South in his Inaugural Address: "In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war. The government will not assail you.... You have no oath registered in Heaven to destroy the government, while I shall have the most solemn one to preserve, protect and defend it."

Lincoln thought secession illegal, and was willing to use force to defend Federal law and the Union. When Confederate batteries fired on Fort Sumter and forced its surrender, he called on the states for 75,000 volunteers. Four more slave states joined the Confederacy but four remained within the Union. The Civil War had begun.

The son of a Kentucky frontiersman, Lincoln had to struggle for a living and for learning. Five months before receiving his party's nomination for President, he sketched his life:

"I was born Feb. 12, 1809, in Hardin County, Kentucky. My parents were both born in Virginia, of undistinguished families-second families, perhaps I should say. My mother, who died in my tenth year, was of a family of the name of Hanks.... My father ... removed from Kentucky to ... Indiana, in my eighth year.... It was a wild region, with many bears and other wild animals still in the woods. There I grew up.... Of course when I came of age I did not know much. Still somehow, I could read, write, and cipher ... but that was all."

Lincoln made extraordinary efforts to attain knowledge while working on a farm, splitting rails for fences, and keeping store at New Salem, Illinois. He was a captain in the Black Hawk War, spent eight years in the Illinois legislature, and rode the circuit of courts for many years. His law partner said of him, "His ambition was a little engine that knew no rest."

He married Mary Todd, and they had four boys, only one of whom lived to maturity. In 1858 Lincoln ran against Stephen A. Douglas for Senator. He lost the election, but in debating with Douglas he gained a national reputation that won him the Republican nomination for President in 1860.

As President, he built the Republican Party into a strong national organization. Further, he rallied most of the northern Democrats to the Union cause. On January 1, 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation that declared forever free those slaves within the Confederacy.

Lincoln never let the world forget that the Civil War involved an even larger issue. This he stated most movingly in dedicating the military cemetery at Gettysburg: "that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain-that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom-and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

Lincoln won re-election in 1864, as Union military triumphs heralded an end to the war. In his planning for peace, the President was flexible and generous, encouraging Southerners to lay down their arms and join speedily in reunion.

The spirit that guided him was clearly that of his Second Inaugural Address, now inscribed on one wall of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D. C.: "With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds.... "

On Good Friday, April 14, 1865, Lincoln was assassinated at Ford's Theatre in Washington by John Wilkes Booth, an actor, who somehow thought he was helping the South. The opposite was the result, for with Lincoln's death, the possibility of peace with magnanimity died.

Learn more about Abraham Lincoln's spouse, Mary Todd Lincoln.

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Abraham Lincoln became the United States' 16th President in 1861, issuing the Emancipation Proclamation that declared forever free those slaves within the Confederacy in 1863.

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Robert E. Lee at Chancellorsville. Courtesy: Library of Congress

No man proved a more worthy opponent to Ulysses S. Grant than Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Lee was born the fourth child of Colonel Henry Lee and Ann Hill Carter on January 19, 1807. Lee's father, also known as "Light-Horse Harry," had been a cavalry leader during the Revolutionary War. Henry Lee had also served as governor of Virginia.

Despite their position in Virginia's ruling elite, the Lee family did not enjoy fantastic wealth. Without the money to attend a university, young Robert E. Lee instead entered the United States Military Academy at West Point. There, he quickly rose in the ranks and graduated second in the class of 1829.

Lee first saw battle in the Mexican War, fought in 1846-48. He served as captain under General Winfield Scott. Later, Scott would write about Lee's remarkable performance in that war, calling him "the very best soldier I ever saw in the field." In October of 1859, Lee was called upon to stop John Brown's attempted slave insurrection at Harper's Ferry, Virginia. It took Lee only an hour to put an end to Brown's raid.

Such early successes made Lee a leading candidate to command Union forces against the South once it decided to secede. Reluctant to engage in a war against the South, Lee turned down an offer of command of the Union forces. On April 18, 1861, the Virginia Secession Convention, made up of the state's ruling elite, voted to join the Southern states in secession. As practical issues, Lee did not oppose either slavery or secession. Although he felt slavery in the abstract was a bad thing, he blamed the national conflict on abolitionists, and accepted the pro-slavery policies of the Confederacy. He chose to fight to defend his homeland. He resigned from the army he had served for 36 years, and accepted the command of Virginia's forces.

After an initially unsuccessful foray as a field commander in western Virginia in 1861, Lee supervised the preparation of coastal defenses along the South Atlantic seaboard before being called to Richmond to serve as military advisor to President Jefferson Davis. He assumed command of the Army of Northern Virginia in May 1862, replacing the seriously wounded Joseph E. Johnston, and immediately embarked on a series of skillful offensive operations that repelled the Union forces outside Richmond in the Seven Days Battles in June and July 1862. Lee followed this with an offensive drive northward that culminated in victory at Second Manassas in August 1862.

However, his effort to carry the war across the Potomac nearly led to disaster when he barely fended off Union assaults at Antietam. Retreating back to Virginia, Lee again displayed deft generalship by checking Union offensives at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville; in the latter battle he prevailed, despite being outnumbered two to one, by dividing his army, outflanking the enemy, and delivering a smashing attack.

Lee followed up this triumph with another invasion of the North, this time suffering a major defeat at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, from July 1 through July 3, 1863. Skilled as he was in repelling Union offensives and outfoxing his Northern counterparts, Lee's preference for battle cost his army dearly. By the time he confronted Ulysses S. Grant in 1864, the drain upon his manpower was noticeable. Despite waging an adroit defensive campaign, he was unable to halt Grant's drive southward or to prevent him from laying siege to Richmond and Petersburg by the summer of 1864. Efforts to divert Union forces with operations in the Shenandoah Valley, including several strikes northward across the Potomac, forced Lee to contemplate how best to continue the war by abandoning the Confederate capital.

By the beginning of April 1865, Grant's armies broke through what remained of the Confederate defenses, and Lee evacuated Richmond and Petersburg on the evening of April 2. A week later, he surrendered what remained of his army to Grant at Appomattox Court House. After the war, Lee accepted the presidency of Washington College in Lexington, Virginia, where he died on October 12, 1870.

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Biography: General Robert E. Lee | American Experience | PBS

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No man proved a more worthy opponent to Ulysses S. Grant than Confederate General Robert E. Lee.

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The first Union flag, did the Union change its flag? RESEARCH THIS

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The first Union flag, did the Union change its flag? RESEARCH THIS

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Virtual Tours! (required to go through 2!)

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Virtual Tours! (required to go through 2!)

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Experience the Civil War and Revolutionary War like never before and tour the battlefields in panoramic view. Jump from battlefield to battlefield using our virtual tours that offer historic detail on battle highlights and points of interest, compelling photography, lively video, in-depth articles and more.

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Experience the Civil War and Revolutionary War like never before and tour the battlefields in panoramic view. Jump from battlefield to battlefield using our virtual tours that offer historic detail on battle highlights and points of interest, compelling photography, lively video, in-depth articles and more.

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Watch this! (don't forget your headphones)

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Watch this! (don't forget your headphones)

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Learn about the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first black regiment, and its depiction in the 1989 movie "Glory"© Civil War Trust (A Britannica Publishing Partner)

So I'm standing in front of the monument to the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. We're at the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial here in Boston, Massachusetts. This is a monument to the first black regiment that was raised in early 1863, following Lincoln's issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation.

It's the brainchild of Governor John Andrew, who, from the beginning of the war, pressed Abraham Lincoln and the rest of the government to recruit black soldiers for the Union war effort. Of course, Lincoln refused to do so until early 1863. And with the go-ahead, Governor Andrew commenced with the raising of the 54th, as well as the 55th and the 5th Massachusetts Cavalry. All three of them were all-black regiments.

Most of the men that served in the 54th and the 55th actually came from outside of Massachusetts. These were free black men raised in other northern states. The reason for that-- there are a number of reasons. First, there were actually relatively few black, or free blacks, in Boston in Massachusetts that could fill up the ranks. Many African-Americans here in the free black community in Boston were suspicious of a war effort that, up until now, had refused to recruit them as soldiers.

By the spring of 1863, the 54th Massachusetts was sent off, down to South Carolina, off of the Sea Islands of South Carolina and Georgia. They first made their way to Beaufort, South Carolina, and by June, early July of 1863, had taken part in a number of engagements-- on James Island, of course, the famous raid and burning of Darien, Georgia.

But its claim to fame comes on July 18th, 1863, with the storming of Battery Wagner, just outside of Charleston, South Carolina. In this failed assault, the commander, Robert Gould Shaw, was killed, along with roughly 40% of the attacking force. So for many viewers, the monument behind me conjures up perhaps memories of the movie, Glory, which was released in 1989-- very successful movie, starring Matthew Broderick, and Denzel Washington, and Morgan Freeman, which told the story of the 54th Massachusetts.

In my mind it's still one of the best Civil War movies out there, but like any Hollywood movie, it does play loose at times with the actual history. There are a couple points, I guess, that should be noted here. I think, most importantly, the movie, Glory, focuses on a sort of small group of fugitive slaves that served in the 54th Massachusetts. And, while they were certainly a small number of former slaves who managed to get into this first black regiment, the vast majority of these men were free blacks born in Northern states, who were recruited in early 1863 to serve in this regiment. So that's one example.

And I think another example has to do with the pay crisis that the movie briefly alludes to. As the unit is coming together in training, there's a famous moment where Colonel Shaw tears up his pay voucher in protest over the unequal pay that black soldiers would receive from the federal government. That was certainly the case.

But what the movie sort of leaves out is that, even after its failed assault at Battery Wagner, for the next close to a year, up until June 1864, the 54th Massachusetts and many other black regiments protested unequal pay. They refused to accept the unequal pay from the federal government. And for the units raised here in Massachusetts, they even refused payment from the governor himself, who wanted to make up the difference.

I think it's safe to say that Glory put these men back on the historical map. And certainly it's the case that, most Americans, when they think of black soldiers or black Union soldiers in the Civil War, they think of the 54th Massachusetts. And that, of course, is now serving as a springboard for research into other black regiments that may not have experienced the war in the same way as these men from Boston did.

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Learn about the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first black regiment, and its depiction in the 1989 movie "Glory"

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So I'm standing in front of the monument to the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. We're at the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial here in Boston, Massachusetts. This is a monument to the first black regiment that was raised in early 1863, following Lincoln's issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation.

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Flag Number 2

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Complete List of Congressional Medal of Honor recipients 

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Complete List of Congressional Medal of Honor recipients 

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The Medal of Honor traces its inception to the Civil War by an act of Congress signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on December 21, 1861. As the only military award authorized during the American Civil War, the Medal of Honor was presented for meritorious actions that would not necessarily be recognized by the Armed Services today. Search the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System to find the men who were accorded this military decoration. Information on the sources of these records may be found here.

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Search For Medals of Honor - The Civil War (U.S. National Park Service)

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The Medal of Honor traces its inception to the Civil War by an act of Congress signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on December 21, 1861. As the only military award authorized during the American Civil War, the Medal of Honor was presented for meritorious actions that would not necessarily be recognized by the Armed Services today.

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Honoring the African American Soldiers who recived the Medal of Honor

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Honoring the African American Soldiers who recived the Medal of Honor

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Congressional Medal of Honor Society

Posted In: Blog Posts | February 11, 2020

The American Civil War is known as one of the most pivotal wars in our nation's history. In this article, we are honoring and remembering all of the African American Medal of Honor Recipients - past and present. Today we recognize the 25 African American Medal of Honor Recipients who so bravely fought and sacrificed their lives during this war.

The American Civil War

Lasting from 1861-1865, the Civil War was between the northern United States (the Union) and the southern states that seceded (the Confederacy). It was sparked over the historic discord regarding owning African Americans as slaves. War began in the months following Abraham Lincoln's election to the Presidency in November of 1860. That December, South Carolina seceded from the Union. Six more states followed in February after President Lincoln announced that it was his duty to maintain the Union during his inaugural address. The seceded states formed the Confederate States of America and the Civil War began in April 1861 when Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter. During the war, black soldiers served the Union as artillery and infantry personnel and performed all noncombat support functions as well.

The Union and the Confederacy fought mostly in the South over the course of four years leaving 620,000-750,000 Americans dead, more than the number of U.S. military deaths in all other wars combined. The war ended April 9, 1865, when General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at the Battle of Appomattox Court House. Confederate generals throughout the south followed his lead. As a result, slavery was abolished and four million black slaves were freed.

Medal of Honor Recipients

Seaman Robert Blake(Contraband)

Serving the rifle gun, Blake, an escaped slave, carried out his duties bravely throughout the engagement which resulted in the enemy's abandonment of positions, leaving a caisson and one gun behind.

Stay connected with us every month and join our monthly newsletter . Donate today to make a difference! Your dollars help perpetuate the legacy of the Medal of Honor. The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with tax ID number 25-1828488.

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Honoring the African American Recipients of the Civil War - Congressional Medal of Honor Society

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Congressional Medal of Honor Society Posted In: Blog Posts | February 11, 2020 The American Civil War is known as one of the most pivotal wars in our nation's history. In this article, we are honoring and remembering all of the African American Medal of Honor Recipients - past and present.

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Life as a Soldier During the Civil War
History >> Civil War

The life of a soldier during the civil war wasn't easy. Not only did soldiers face the possibility of getting killed in battle, their daily lives were full of hardships. They had to deal with hunger, bad weather, poor clothing, and even boredom between battles.

Engineers of the 8th New York
State Militia in front of a tent
from the National Archives

A Typical Day

Soldiers were woken at dawn to begin their day. They had drills in the morning and afternoon where they practiced for battle. Each soldier had to know his place in the unit so the army would fight as a group. Fighting together and quickly obeying the commands of the officers was a key to victory.

Between the drills, soldiers would do chores such as cooking their meals, fixing their uniforms, or cleaning equipment. If they had some free time they might play games such as poker or dominoes. They also enjoyed singing songs and writing letters to home. At night some soldiers would have guard duty. This could make for a long and tiring day.

Medical Conditions

The soldiers of the civil war had to deal with terrible medical conditions. Doctors didn't know about infections. They didn't even bother to wash their hands! Many soldiers died from infections and disease. Even a small wound could end up infected and cause a soldier to die.

The idea of medicine during this time was very primitive. They had little knowledge of pain killers or anesthetics. During major battles there were far more wounded soldiers than doctors. There was little doctors could do for wounds to the torso, but for wounds to the arms and legs, they would often amputate.

A Regimental Fife-and-drum Corps
from the National Archives

How old were they?

There were soldiers of all ages that fought during the war. The average age for the Union Army was around 25 years old. The minimum age to join the army was 18 years old, however, it's thought that many young boys lied about their age and, by the end of the war, there were thousands of soldiers as young as 15 years old.

What did they eat?

The soldiers of the Civil War were often hungry. They mostly ate hard crackers made from flour, water, and salt called hardtack. Sometimes they would get salt pork or corn meal to eat. To supplement their meals, soldiers would forage from the land around them. They would hunt game and collect fruits, berries, and nuts whenever they could. By the end of the war, many soldiers in the Confederate army were on the verge of starvation.

Winter quarters; soldiers in front
of their wooden hut, "Pine Cottage"
from the National Archives

Were they paid?

A private in the Union army made $13 a month, while a three star general made over $700 a month. Soldiers in the Confederate army made less with privates earning $11 a month. Payments were slow and irregular, however, with soldiers sometimes waiting over 6 months to get paid.

Facts about Life as a Soldier During the Civil War

During the fall, they would work on their winter camp where they would stay at one place for the long winter months.

Soldiers were drafted, but the rich could make a payment if they wanted to avoid fighting.

If life as a soldier was bad, life as a prisoner was worse. Conditions were so bad that thousands of soldiers died while being held as prisoner.

By the end of the war around 10% of the Union army consisted of African American soldiers.

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History >> Civil War

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Kids History: Life as a Soldier During the Civil War

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Life as a Soldier During the Civil War History >> Civil War The life of a soldier during the civil war wasn't easy. Not only did soldiers face the possibility of getting killed in battle, their daily lives were full of hardships. They had to deal with hunger, bad weather, poor clothing, and even boredom between battles.

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Go to your class GOOGLE CLASSROOM to take your quiz!

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Go to your class GOOGLE CLASSROOM to take your quiz!

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the quiz is on your google classroom

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What is the Emancipation Proclamation?, What is the Emancipation Proclamation about?, What does Emancipation mean?, What date was the Emancipation Proclamation spoken? (the year is fine)