What was a major political consequence of the Emancipation Proclamation?

The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, had significant political implications, particularly in its allowance for African Americans to enlist in the Union Army. This decision not only aimed to bolster the Union's military strength by incorporating formerly enslaved individuals into the fight against the Confederacy but also transformed the nature of the Civil War, linking the Union's struggle to the broader cause of freedom and civil rights.

By enabling African Americans to serve in the military, Lincoln helped to shift public perception and policy regarding race and the roles that African Americans could play in society. This inclusion represented a critical turning point, as thousands of African American men took up arms for their freedom and the preservation of the Union. Their participation in the war effort was crucial, not only for its immediate impact on the battlefield but also for the long-term implications it had for civil rights, as it laid a foundation for future advances in racial equality and citizenship.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the primary political consequences of the Emancipation Proclamation. The proclamation did not immediately unite all Northern states against the South in a way that was new; rather, divisions and differing views on slavery persisted. It also did not restore Confederate leaders to power,