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The Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 helped preserve the Union. At the time it did not call for the destruction of slavery, but rather to give the Union one more advantage over the South. Giving black slaves freedom from their rebel masters helped the Union physically and morally. <Tab/>The Union believed the war would be easily won. However, the South had many experienced leaders and soldiers from the Mexico-American War. The North …

…weaken the South, since slavery was the base of the economy, and strengthen the North by increasing their laborers and fighting force. The act would also raise the moral of the Union, which believed the war was based on slavery support in Documents 1, 2, 3, and 4."...this monster Slavery has eaten up and devoured the patriotism of the whole South, kindled the lurid flames of a bloody rebellion in our midst,... and break down our Government..."(Douglass, 277)