The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, had a profound impact on the status of slaves in the United States. It declared that all slaves in Confederate-held territory were to be set free, altering the Civil War's purpose by framing it as a fight against slavery. Although it didn't immediately free all slaves, it bolstered the Union's moral standing and encouraged enslaved people to escape, undermining the Confederate economy. The Proclamation paved the way for the eventual abolition of slavery through the 13th Amendment in 1865. It marked a pivotal moment in American history, solidifying the link between liberty and equality.