Understanding the Significance of the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation Today
Suggested Teaching Instructions
NYS Social Studies Framework
11.3 EXPANSION, NATIONALISM, AND SECTIONALISM (1800 – 1865): As the nation expanded, growing sectional tensions, especially over slavery, resulted in political and constitutional crises that culminated in the Civil War. (Standards: 1, 3, 4, 5; Themes: TCC, GEO, GOV, ECO, TECH)
11.3c Long-standing disputes over States rights and slavery and the secession of Southern states from the Union, sparked by the election of Abraham Lincoln, led to the Civil War. After the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing the slaves became a major Union goal. The Civil War resulted in tremendous human loss and physical destruction.
Students will examine the expansion of executive and federal power as they relate to the suspension of habeas corpus within the Union and the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation.
11.10 SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGE/DOMESTIC ISSUES (1945 – present): Racial, gender, and socioeconomic inequalities were addressed by individuals, groups, and organizations. Varying political philosophies prompted debates over the role of the federal government in regulating the economy and providing a social safety net. (Standards: 1, 4, 5; Themes: ID, TCC, SOC, GOV, CIV, ECO)
11.10a After World War II, long-term demands for equality by African Americans led to the civil rights movement. The efforts of individuals, groups, and institutions helped to redefine African American civil rights, though numerous issues remain unresolved.
Students will examine the roles and impact of individuals such as Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Stokely Carmichael, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Malcolm X on the movement and their perspectives on change.
Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education Framework
Inclusive curriculum and assessment elevate historically marginalized voices. It includes opportunities to learn about power and privilege in the context of various communities and empowers learners to be agents of positive social change. It provides the opportunity to learn about perspectives beyond one’s own scope. It works toward dismantling systems of biases and inequities, and decentering dominant ideologies in education.
Ask questions about self, community, and society that may serve as opportunities to connect in-school learning with the world outside the classroom. Share these questions and any related ideas with your teachers and school leaders.
In this learning activity, students will analyze the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation and an excerpt from a speech delivered by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. commemorating the centennial of the this document. The compelling question asks students to connect the Emancipation Proclamation to their contemporary United States. How has the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation shaped the United States we live in today?
Additional Resources
The Second Declaration of Independence: Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation by Historian Harold Holzer
The Incomplete Celebration by Historian Jennifer Lemak
Audio Recording of Dr. King's 1962 Speech
Educator's Guide to Dr. King's 1962 Speech from the New York State Museum