What was one reason why the Emancipation Proclamation was able to benefit the North's cause?

One reason why the Emancipation Proclamation was able to benefit the North's cause during the American Civil War was its impact on international relations. By framing the Union's struggle as a fight against slavery, President Abraham Lincoln sought to garner support from European nations, particularly Britain and France.

European powers had abolished slavery, and public sentiment in these countries was generally anti-slavery. The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by Lincoln on January 1, 1863, declared that all slaves in Confederate-held territory were to be set free. This move aligned the Union's cause with the moral opposition to slavery, making it more difficult for European nations to support the Confederacy.

As a result, the Emancipation Proclamation helped prevent foreign intervention on behalf of the Confederacy, which could have significantly altered the course of the war. The proclamation framed the Union's war effort not only as a struggle to preserve the Union but also as a moral crusade against slavery, appealing to the abolitionist sentiments prevalent in Europe.