There Were 4 Emancipation Proclamations
None of them freed a slave
The Four Emancipation Proclamations: Fremont, Hunter, Douglas, and Lincoln
When people hear the term Emancipation Proclamation, they often think of Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 decree. However, the journey toward emancipation was marked by a series of proclamations and declarations by other figures who played pivotal roles in shaping the path to freedom. These historical figures include John C. Fremont, David Hunter, Frederick Douglass, and, of course, Lincoln himself. Each of these men contributed to the evolving vision of emancipation proclamations in their own unique way, leading to the final and most famous Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863.
1. John C. Fremont: The First Step Toward Emancipation
John C. Fremont, a Union general, issued the first of the four Emancipation Proclamation during the early days of the Civil War. On August 30, 1861, Fremont declared that all enslaved people owned by Confederate sympathizers in the Western District were to be set free.
However, Fremont’s proclamation was short-lived. President Lincoln, fearful that Fremont was politicizing slavery, and after abruptly ending Freemonts’ military career, rescinded the order and instructed all slaves in the Westen District to be reenslaved. Fremont’s actions, though curtailed, signaled a growing recognition within the Union that slavery and the war were intrinsically linked.
While Fremont’s Emancipation Proclamation would later serve as a framework for the national policy Lincoln would eventually implement. It revealed the complexities of using emancipation as a military and political strategy while highlighting the growing demand for decisive action against slavery.
2. David Hunter: A Bold but Controversial Declaration
Commander of the only southern area controlled by the union – Beaufort SC. In 1862, Union General David Hunter issued the second of the four Emancipation Proclamation. Hunter, commanding the Department of the South, declared all enslaved
people in Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina free. These states were Confederate and not under the control of Hunter, but Hunter believed emancipation would undermine their economic and military power.
Hunter’s proclamation, issued on May 9, 1862, faced immediate backlash from Lincoln. Like Fremont before him, Hunter acted without Lincoln’s prior approval, and Lincoln once again nullified the order fearing the political ramifications, and ending Hunter’s military career.
Despite its revocation, Hunter’s act demonstrated the Union army’s growing willingness to disrupt slavery as a tool of war. It also underscored Lincoln’s careful balancing act as he sought to maintain Union unity while being mindful of his political aspirations.
3. Frederick Douglass: The Voice of Emancipation
Frederick Douglass, a formerly enslaved man turned abolitionist leader, approached Lincoln in 1863 with the third Emancipation Proclamation, hoping to convince him to sign the document. Douglass argued passionately to Lincoln for the Union to embrace emancipation not only as a moral imperative but as a strategic necessity in winning the war.
While Lincoln refused to sign his Emancipation Proclamation, Douglass’s speeches, writings, and personal influence pressured Lincoln and other leaders to adopt a more aggressive stance on slavery. His unwavering dedication to the cause of freedom was instrumental in shaping public opinion and policy.
4. Abraham Lincoln: The Definitive Emancipation Proclamation
Abraham Lincoln’s, the fourth Emancipation Proclamation, issued in two parts, stands as the most famous and consequential of all. The Preliminary Proclamation, announced on September 22, 1862, declared that all enslaved people in Confederate-controlled states would be freed if those states didn’t rejoin the Union by January 1, 1863. (a little like America passing a law for France)
When the Confederate states refused, Lincoln issued the Final Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. This document declared all enslaved people in the Confederacy free and authorized the enlistment of Black soldiers into the Union Army. However, it’s important to note that the Confederacy was a separate country and not bound by the document.
Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was as much a wartime measure as it was a moral statement. It did not apply to enslaved people in border states like Kentucky and Missouri, which remained loyal to the Union, nor Union-controlled areas in the South. Nevertheless, it fundamentally altered the character of the war, transforming it into a fight for freedom.
While none of the 4 Emancipation Proclamations freed slaves, they would all play a part in paving the way for the eventual freedom of slaves with the 13th Amendment in the spring of 1865.
The Legacy of the Four Emancipation Proclamations
The evolution of the Emancipation Proclamation reflects the complexities of ending slavery in the United States. Fremont and Hunter’s early proclamations
demonstrated the willingness of Union leaders to take bold steps, even if their actions exceeded their authority. Douglass’s relentless advocacy kept the issue of emancipation at the forefront of national debate. Lincoln’s final Emancipation Proclamation tied the Union’s war effort to the cause of freedom, giving it a higher moral purpose.
These four proclamations and their surrounding efforts reveal that emancipation wasn’t a singular event but a gradual process shaped by multiple voices and circumstances. Together, they illuminate the intricate political, military, and social dynamics of the Civil War era.
Understanding the contributions of Fremont, Hunter, Douglass, and Lincoln provides a richer perspective on the Emancipation Proclamation. Each proclamation and act of advocacy played a small role in dismantling the institution of slavery, although none of them freed a slave. That would not happen until the passage of the 13th Amendment to our constitution.
Today, the legacy of these proclamations serves as a reminder of the sacrifices and struggles that brought freedom to millions. For anyone seeking to uncover the nuanced history of emancipation, these interconnected stories offer invaluable insights into America’s fight for justice and equality, and how sometimes history gets it wrong.
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