Emancipation Proclamation
Syllabification: (E·man·ci·pa·tion Proc·la·ma·tion)
Pronunciation: /iˌmansəˈpāSHən/
Definition of Emancipation Proclamation
- the announcement made by President Lincoln during the Civil War on September 22, 1862, emancipating all black slaves in states still engaged in rebellion against the Union. Although implementation was strictly beyond Lincoln’s powers, the declaration turned the war into a crusade against slavery. It went into effect on January 1, 1863.