The document Abraham Lincoln issued on January 1, 1863, is the Emancipation Proclamation. This crucial executive order declared the freedom of all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory during the American Civil War. While it did not end slavery in the border states loyal to the Union, it signaled a transformation in the war’s purpose, as it shifted the focus to include the fight against slavery as a key objective. The proclamation also allowed for the enlistment of Black soldiers in the Union Army, bolstering its ranks. Ultimately, the Emancipation Proclamation laid the groundwork for the eventual passage of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery altogether.