Which U.S. President issued the Emancipation Proclamation?

The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War. This executive order declared that all enslaved people in Confederate states were to be set free, effectively transforming the war's purpose into a fight not only for the Union but also for freedom. Lincoln's decision to issue the proclamation was influenced by the need to weaken the Confederate war effort, as enslaved labor was crucial to the South's economy.

Beyond its immediate military implications, the proclamation also paved the way for the eventual abolition of slavery throughout the entire nation, culminating in the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865. Lincoln's commitment to ending slavery helped redefine the principles of equality and liberty in the United States, marking a significant turning point in American history.

In contrast, the other individuals listed—Ulysses S. Grant, Andrew Johnson, and James Buchanan—were either not in office during the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation or did not play a direct role in this particular historic act.