TIMELINE TO FREEDOM
April 12, 1861- Ft. Sumter
1. May 23rd, 1861 “Fortress Freedom”
•At Fortress Monroe (Union) on the James River in Virginia...
•General Benjamin Butler decides that since they [slaves] were working on the Confederate Fort... He would "confiscate" them [slaves] as "contraband" of war... They would henceforth be free... **as would any that follow**... To this fort
•Confederate general demands their return... Gen. Butler... Says... Umm.. NO
2. August 6th, 1861 [1st Confiscation Act]
Congress: "By court proceeding" any property of a "rebel" is to be condemned and for forfeited... Including "slaves"...
3. August 30th, 1861 Fremont Emancipation
General John C. Frémont commander of Western Department
Orders all property of rebels or those who aid rebels in his command (primarily Missouri) to be "confiscated" as "contraband of war"... All slaves (of rebels) are to be "emancipated"
***A. Lincoln rescinds order November 2nd and removed Frémont from command***
4. March 1862 [an Act Prohibiting the Return of Slaves]
Congress: *all union armies are not to return slaves at any time...
5. April 16th, 1862 [DC compensated emancipation act...]
Congress: DC ends slavery...compensated….
6. May 1862 Gen. Hunters General Order No. 11
General David Hunter-Commander Union forces in Florida, Georgia, And South Carolina (Military Department of the South)
"Freeing all slaves held in areas under his command" and places South under martial law
*** Lincoln rescinded order immediately ***
7. July 1862 [2nd Confiscation Act]
Congress: All persons who aid CSA, who don't surrender within 60 days of this act ...would lose all property as Union army can procure ... (Confiscate)
•Slaves freed-- of those persons claimed as "contraband of war"
•Allowed for "contraband soldiers" to be employed by union occupying armies
•1st Black soldiers used by Army during the War….
8. September 22, 1862 Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln issues: the preliminary emancipation proclamation... Freeing all slaves held in areas in rebellion that did not end their rebellion by January 1st 1863...
9. January 1st 1863 The Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln issues: Freeing all slaves held in areas still in rebellion.
******Allowing for black Soldiers to legally serve in the U.S. Army… 1st time since 1793
10. April 8th, 1864 13th AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION
Passed House- January 31st, 1865, Senate- December 8th, 1865 ADOPTED
Note: First amendment to "give power" to Federal government all others had restricted the Federal Government...
Section 1: Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist within the USA
Section 2: Congress shall have the POWER to enforce this article...