The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War. It declared that all enslaved people in the Confederate states were to be set free, marking a pivotal moment in the fight against slavery in the United States. While the proclamation did not immediately free all enslaved individuals, it was a significant step towards the abolition of slavery. It also allowed for the enlistment of African American soldiers in the Union Army, further strengthening the fight for freedom and equality in America.