Wisconsin Civics for Graduation Requirement Practice Test

The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, declared that all slaves in the Confederate states were to be set free. This executive order was a strategic move during the Civil War, aiming to weaken the Confederacy by undermining its labor force.

This choice accurately highlights the primary effect of the Proclamation. It specifically targeted the states in rebellion against the Union, meaning that while it did not immediately free all slaves across the United States, it was a crucial step toward the overall abolition of slavery. The Proclamation also allowed for the enlistment of African American soldiers in the Union Army, further contributing to the war effort against the Confederacy.

The other options, while they touch on significant aspects of the antebellum and Civil War period, do not correctly reflect the immediate consequences of the Proclamation itself. For instance, figures of economic prosperity or the status of slaves in the North were not direct results of this action, nor did it directly lead to the growth of abolitionist movements, although it may have influenced public sentiment in broader contexts.