Emancipation Proclamation and Wartime Emancipation Policies (1862–1865)

1. First Confiscation Act enacted

   Aug 6, 1861Labels: First Confiscation, U S

   • Britannica
   • US Senate

2. Military barred from returning fugitives

   Mar 13, 1862Labels: Article of, Abraham Lincoln

   • Act text
   • US Senate

3. Slavery abolished in Washington, D.C.

   Apr 16, 1862Labels: D C, Washington D

   • Nat Archives
   • Britannica

4. Slavery banned in U.S. territories

   Jun 19, 1862Labels: Territorial Slavery, U S

   • Territorial act

5. Second Confiscation Act passed

   Jul 17, 1862Labels: Second Confiscation, U S

   • US Senate
   • Britannica
   • UMD Freedmen

6. Militia Act links service to freedom

   Jul 17, 1862Labels: Militia Act, Black enlistees

   • Militia act

7. Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation issued

   Sep 22, 1862Labels: Preliminary Emancipation, Abraham Lincoln

   • Nat Archives
   • Britannica

8. Emancipation Proclamation takes effect

   Jan 1, 1863Labels: Emancipation Proclamation, Abraham Lincoln

   • Britannica
   • Nat Archives

9. Captured and Abandoned Property Act enacted

   Mar 12, 1863Labels: Captured and, U S

   • State Hist
   • Britannica

10. U.S. Colored Troops formally organized

    May 22, 1863Labels: United States, War Department

    • Nat Archives

11. Amnesty and Reconstruction proclamation issued

    Dec 8, 1863Labels: Amnesty and, Ten Percent

    • Presidency
    • HISTORY

12. Fugitive Slave Acts repealed

    Jun 28, 1864Labels: Fugitive Slave, U S

    • EmergingCW

13. Thirteenth Amendment passes Congress

    Jan 31, 1865Labels: Thirteenth Amendment, U S

    • Nat Archives

14. Freedmen’s Bureau established

    Mar 3, 1865Labels: Freedmen s, War Department

    • Nat Archives
    • US Senate

15. General Order No. 3 issued in Texas

    Jun 19, 1865Labels: General Order, Galveston Texas

    • GalvestonHF
    • Nat Archives

16. Thirteenth Amendment ratified

    Dec 6, 1865Labels: Thirteenth Amendment, Ratification

    • Nat Archives