The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, was significant for several reasons. Primarily, it declared the freedom of all enslaved people in the Confederate states, transforming the Civil War into a battle for liberation. Although it did not immediately free all enslaved individuals, it fundamentally altered the nature of the conflict by adding moral urgency to the Union cause. The proclamation also allowed for the enlistment of Black soldiers in the Union Army, bolstering the Union's manpower. Ultimately, it paved the way for the passage of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States.