The emancipation proclamation was a convienent way to conscript blacks into the US Army as the supply of willing Irish was runnong low. Lincoln needed more bodies to put between DC and the CSA’a Army of NoVa.
“The emancipation proclamation was a convienent way to conscript blacks into the US Army as the supply of willing Irish was runnong low”
Whatever. I never said it wasn’t. That was Lincoln’s position, as well, if you’ll recall. Not in those exact words, but it was presented as a necessary wartime measure.
By the way, it wasn’t only that. For it proclaimed slaves in the rebellious states would be free “hereafter,” meaning FOREVER. And forever was expected to extend beyond the war.