What gave slaves freedom in 1863?

In 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln, declared that all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory were to be set free. While it did not immediately free all slaves, it marked a significant turning point in the Civil War by transforming the conflict into a fight for freedom. Additionally, it allowed for the enlistment of African American soldiers in the Union Army, further contributing to the push for emancipation.