[southernsunshine]

You're wrong. About 20,000, in US controlled areas of North Carolina and on the Sea Islands of South Carolina were immediately affected. And of course as the war went on, millions more were freed under its terms.

Read the thoughts of Lincoln's contemporaries on this, including the legal aspects of it.

Everyone, including slaves. What's your point?

Follow the conversation.

[Tublecane]

“Read the thoughts of Lincoln’s contemporaries on this, including the legal aspects of it.”

Oh, give it up. You know what happened. Eventually the Confederacy was conquered, and no matter what else happened the slaves in that territory would never have been delivered back to bondage. The 13th amendment made the point moot, but the EP nonetheless provided for freedom “henceforward,” i.e. forever.

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

Do you understand that war aims can change over the course of years?