President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. This executive order was a crucial turning point during the American Civil War, as it declared the freedom of all enslaved people in Confederate-held territories. Though it did not immediately free any individuals, it represented a significant shift in the Union's war aims, turning the fight against the Confederacy into a battle for freedom. The proclamation also allowed for the enlistment of Black soldiers into the Union Army, adding a new dimension to the struggle for civil rights and human freedom in the United States.