This refers to President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 during the Civil War, which declared all slaves in Confederate-held territory free (though it didn't fully end slavery until later).
Imagine if a school principal announced that homework is no longer mandatory - but only for students living on one side of town. That's kind of what Lincoln did with his proclamation; he freed slaves, but only those under Confederate control at first.
Emancipation Proclamation: The executive order issued by President Lincoln declaring all slaves in Confederate territory free.
13th Amendment: The constitutional amendment ratified after the Civil War that officially ended slavery throughout the United States.
Civil War (1861-1865): A war fought between Northern states (Union) and Southern states (Confederacy) over issues including states' rights and slavery.
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