One of Lincoln’s first acts was to free the slaves in Washington DC. He knew that he didn’t have the authority to unilaterally free the slaves nationally. For that an amendment to the constitution was needed. That is the province of congress and the states, not the president.
This is absolutely wrong. Abraham Lincoln was sworn into office on March 4, 1861. President Lincoln signed legislation to free Washington DC slaves on April 16, 1862, one year and one month after his inauguration. So his first acts was not to free the slaves in DC. Another thing, it was not President Lincoln who signed an EO to free the slaves in DC. This legislation was brought forward by a Jr. Senator from Massachusetts in December 1861 and took awhile for Congress to pass it. Lincoln did not free the slaves in DC, Congress did on April 3, 1862. Lincoln only signed the Bill. The Civil War started on April 15, 1861. Lincoln hadn’t even been in office 1 month when the war started.
The legislation titled “An Act for the release for the release of certain persons held to service or labor in the District of Columbia,” it freed the 3,100 women, men and children who were still enslaved in 1862. The act also allowed for slaveowners to be compensated up to $300 for each individual they had legally owned. In addition, newly-freed African Americans could receive up to $100 if they chose to emigrate to another country. (Reparations)
One of Lincolns first acts was to go to war with the South by issuing the Call for Troops. The Emancipation Proclamation was a Presidential Proclamation and Executive Order on January 1, 1863.
The War came first then the freeing of the slaves.
Please get your history correct.
Indeed. The rebels initiated hostilities against the United States even before Lincoln assumed office.