The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, was a pivotal moment in American history as it aimed to free slaves in the Confederate states. Although it did not immediately free all slaves, it changed the character of the Civil War by making the fight against slavery a central goal of the Union war effort. The 13th Amendment, ratified on December 6, 1865, built upon this foundation by formally abolishing slavery throughout the entire United States. Together, these two actions represent crucial milestones in the struggle for civil rights and equality, marking the transition from a society that accepted slavery to one that recognized the freedom and rights of all individuals.