What does the Emancipation Proclamation specifically focus on?

The Emancipation Proclamation specifically focuses on freeing slaves in certain states, particularly those in the Confederate states that were in rebellion against the Union during the American Civil War. Issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, the proclamation declared that all enslaved people in the Confederate-held territory were to be set free. This action was a significant step towards the abolition of slavery in the United States and aimed to weaken the Confederacy's ability to fight the war by freeing their labor force.

Lincoln's proclamation did not apply to enslaved individuals in border states that remained loyal to the Union or in certain areas under Union control, which is why it is specifically focused on certain states rather than all enslaved individuals across the nation. The historical context of the Emancipation Proclamation highlights its importance in shaping the course of the war and the future of civil rights in America, but its primary focus was decidedly on the liberation of slaves in the rebellion states.