Primary Sources of the civil war
1. the emancipation proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation issued on September 22, 1862 by President Abraham Lincoln, stated "That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free" The Emancipation really didn't free anyone since the Emancipation only freed slaves in the rebellious states. We can believe, however that the Emancipation Proclamation shed new light on the civil war. Soldiers were now not only fighting for a country but to free slaves in the countries they were fighting for. Despite the fact it didn't go into to affect straightaway, we can say that it was a grand start to the end of slavery.
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/emancipation_proclamation/transcript.html
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/emancipation_proclamation/transcript.html
2. CIVIL WAR CONSCRIPTION ACT
Congress passed a conscription act on April 16, 1862 which said that any man from the age of 18 to 35 was eligible to fight in the civil war. Despite the fact that this act led to riots and many unhappy people, it provided a suitable amount of arms for the war. If we consider what may have happened if a conscription act was never passed, the outcome of the war would likely have been very different. If the war had been any different, slavery may not have been ended. The conscription act may have been a dislike to many people but in the end it helped win a war by providing much needed men.
http://www.civilwarvirtualmuseum.org/1861-1862/prairie-grove/thomas-hindman-broadside.php
http://www.civilwarvirtualmuseum.org/1861-1862/prairie-grove/thomas-hindman-broadside.php
3. GettysBurg Address
Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg address at the Gettysburg battlefield. At the Gettysburg battle, there were roughly 23,000 Union casualties and roughly 28,000 Confederate casualties. Many Union soldiers were buried with poor tombstone markings. David Wills made efforts to turn the Battlefield into a cemetery for the lost soldiers. The Gettysburg address was an important marking in our history, since it shows how people viewed the war. It was distasteful but the men fought there would never be forgotten for leaving their family and friends to do something they knew in their hearts would help others.
http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/gettysburg-address
http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/gettysburg-address