How This Bloody Civil War Battle Paved the Way for Lincoln’s Historic Emancipation Proclamation

The bloody Battle of Antietam set the stage for President Lincoln to make a historic announcement

A color lithograph portraying the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest battle ever fought on American soil, circa 1888. Library of Congress

President Abraham Lincoln had a great deal on his mind in the summer of 1862. The Civil War dragged on, and the very fate of the nation hung in the balance. As he considered his responsibilities and authority as president, his resolve for a new measure grew.

He invited Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles and Secretary of State William Seward to accompany him one day in July. As his carriage rolled toward its destination, for the first time Lincoln spoke of a proclamation—a document that would change the course of American history.