Emancipation Proclamation and Civil War

In January 1863, a Union soldier read the Emancipation Proclamation under an oak tree in Hampton, Virginia, to a crowd of free African Americans. The proclamation declared freedom for enslaved people in Confederate states, shifting the Civil War's focus to ending slavery. It allowed African Americans to join the Union army, contributing significantly to the war effort. The oak tree became known as Emancipation Oak, symbolizing the beginning of the end of slavery in the U.S.

What was the weather like on the day the Union soldier read the document?

• Bitter cold

• Sunny and warm

• Rainy and windy

• Hot and humid

Why did Samuel want to go to the front of the crowd?

• To get warm

• To find his parents

• To hear better

• To see his friends

What was the reaction of the crowd when the soldier read the Emancipation Proclamation?

• They were angry

• They were silent

• They were confused

• They erupted in gasps of relief and joy

What did Violet not understand about the Emancipation Proclamation?

• The overall meaning

• The language used

• The date it was issued

• The names mentioned

Which states were allowed to keep enslaved people despite the Emancipation Proclamation?

• States that had seceded

• States that were neutral

• States that had not seceded

• All states

What was the primary reason President Lincoln declared war?

• To end slavery

• To reduce taxes

• To keep the nation whole

• To gain more territory

How did the Emancipation Proclamation change the focus of the Civil War?

• It made the war about ending slavery

• It made the war about gaining territory

• It made the war about trade

• It made the war about reducing taxes

Who helped recruit African Americans to fight for the Union?

• Ulysses S. Grant

• Frederick Douglass

• Abraham Lincoln

• Robert E. Lee

What roles did African American women take on in the Union army?

• Soldiers and generals

• Politicians and diplomats

• Pilots and engineers

• Nurses, spies, and scouts

What is the significance of Emancipation Oak?

• It was the site of a major Union victory

• It was the first place the Emancipation Proclamation was read on Confederate territory

• It was where President Lincoln gave a famous speech

• It was where the first battle of the Civil War took place