How did blacks react to the Emancipation Proclamation?

Question

A. They were suspicious about Lincoln's motives
B. They saw it as a beacon promising future improvement.
C. They were overjoyed by its immediate abolition of slavery.
D. NYC backs rioted for 4 days in their anger as its shortcomings.

I believe the answer is B? am I correct?

Answer 1

As others have pointed out, A & D are impossible (esp. D, since the race riots were white against black DRAFT riots). But the choice between B & C is not so simple as is being suggested.

There seems to be a little bit of confusion here, on at least two points. (The problem might have been solved by more precision in the question, and/or answer-choices.)

1) First, when people refer to the "Emancipation Proclamation" and its promulgation, they might have one of TWO things in mind:

a) September 22, 1862 - Lincoln announces his intent to announce the freeing of the slaves in rebel territory -- he will do so in 100 days, if those in rebellion have not returned.

b) January 1, 1863 - Lincoln follows up -- quoting the Sept 22 document he lists which territories are covered (i.e., areas then in rebellion), and declares the slaves in those places FREE.

The first of these would better be called the "preliminary" (version of the) Emancipation Proclamation -- it announces his INTENT to emancipate at the time announced. But the second, on January 1 1863 is the FINAL proclamation. If one speaks simply of the "Emancipation Proclamation", or of its "going into effect" THIS is properly the 'real deal'.

The answer that said the Proclamation "simply promised ...slaves would be freed... after a certain number of months" apparently has the PRELIMINARY statement in mind, and somehow missed the fact that the FINAL form WAS indeed issued on January 1 AS promised. The implication is that, LEGALLY speaking, the slaves in those territories WERE free as of that date (and slavery IMMEDIATELY abolished there). And despite what anyone says, most people came to understand it that way, though of course everyone knew that the Proclamation was only of value IF the Union armies were successful. But again, as a matter of LAW, it was in effect when proclaimed --on January 1, 1863.

And please note the following -- which those who say it "freed no one" seem to miss-- that the Proclamation, as an executive act, did not simply say "they are free", but directed the armed forces under the command of the executive (as Commander-in-chief) to CARRY IT OUT. Obviously, a law or proclamation must be ENFORCED to do any good, but that's precisely what began to happen when the Proclamation became official (that is, immediately).

Further, note that thousands of slaves had ALREADY fled behind Union lines by this time. For them, and for any that followed, this meant IMMEDIATE freedom (the promise of no return to their masters). It also encouraged many who heard about it to flee themselves, esp. once Union armies came near.

Now about the reaction of blacks -- It would be silly to think that every individual had precisely the same response (for example, some were, no doubt, skeptical) but we can reasonably speak of a "general" response. And for that "B" is simply not strong enough. Unfortunately the WORDING of "C" gets in the way -- choosing it seems to suggest that slavery was abolished in ALL places through the Proclamation, when in fact, it was not in the LOYAL border states (that that would quickly change as these states themselves began to pass laws to emancipate their slaves). But legally slavery WAS abolished in all territories COVERED by the Proclamation. Rejecting "C" based on the idea that the Proclamation did not free anyone is, as noted above, quite mistaken.

Also note that though 'news got around' the channels then were not what they are today. Many blacks in the DEEP South did not get the straight story for some time. Indeed, many slaves in Texas did not hear anything until June 1865 when Union armies arrived with the announcment. (The official date of the announcement in Texas was June 19th, which was thenceforth honored as their emancipation day, nicknamed "Juneteenth".) Now this adds another interesting piece to the puzzle. The black reaction to the Proclamation did not come all at once, because they did not all HEAR about it at once. And in many cases they ending up hearing about it WHEN the Union armies arrived, or were approaching. Hence for many of them the announcement of the Proclamation (that is, their hearing it announced) DID mean emancipation... and the immediate abolition of slavery now brought to THAT locale.

It may help you to think of the Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863 as analogous to the Declaration of Independence. Note that the U.S. dates its independence to THAT date, of the legal proclamation's being agreed to, and NOT to the date of final victory in the war. In fact, if you read the later statements of Frederick Douglas and other blacks who had eagerly awaited this day, they DID see at as the 'day of emancipation'.

SO, what should you choose as the "official" answer? If this is a class question, I believe the answer they are looking for is "B". But for the reasons outlined above that answer is misleading and C may even be closer. If you were to have witnessed celebrations in the North at that time (among free blacks) you would probably pick C.

Answer 2

B is correct. Blacks were certainly not suspicious, as it was the first indication of any type that something would actually be done to attack slavery; the civil war had up to that point been about reuniting the country WITH slavery intact. C is not correct as the proclamation did not free any slaves at all, it simply promised that slaves would be freed in any state still in rebellion after a certain number of months. D is not correct at all, the riots in NYC were AGAINST blacks by poor whites, in large part Irish but not limited to that nationality, who were angry about having to fight to "free the slaves" against their will. I AM certain that B is the correct answer, A and D are not, and C obviously isn't.

Answer 3

Southern whites were shocked by the Emancipation Proclamation. The emancipation ended following Lee's surrender. The slaves were freed by the 13th amendment to U.S. Constitution in 1865.

Answer 4

It's got to be, the other ones don't make sense.
A. Why be suspicious, the proclamation was pretty clear

C. It didn't actually immediately abolish slavery so.... no

D. Yeah, riots in NYC were about the draft so .... no

Answer 5

It's B...

I'm doing the Civil war in class.

Answer 6

Hi, you would be 100% correct. It is B.

Answer 7

Don't go with B, this guy above me seems unsure.

From a logical perspective I would think it would be A. or D., because blacks had been through a lot in America.