Did Lincoln free the slaves, or did the slaves free themselves?

Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation said that on January 1, 1863, all slaves held in Southern states would be "forever free." President Lincoln himself believed that if anyone remembered his achievements as president, the Emancipation Proclamation would be what they remembered about him. However, historians have pointed out that Lincoln's proclamation did not free slaves in border states that were still part of the Union, and did not free slaves in the Confederate states unless they were liberated by the Union army. Others have claimed that the slaves themselves actually should get credit for obtaining their own freedom.

Your assignment is to use primary and secondary sources to write a one-paragraph response that answers this important historical question: "Did Lincoln free the slaves, or did the slaves free themselves?"

(The image below is Lincoln's signature on the Emancipation Proclamation. It is one of the few documents that President Lincoln signed with his full time. He usually signed, "A. Lincoln" to most documents.)

Frederick Douglass: What is the 4th of July to a Slave?

On July 5, 1852, abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass made a speech in Rochester, New York, to 500-600 members of the Ladies Anti-Slavery Society and others. The speech is known as "What is the 4th of July to a slave?" You have been studying and analyzing the speech during the last week. Today, you are going to work with a partner to answer three questions. about the speech. Make sure that you remember to cite evidence directly from Mr. Douglass'  speech.
Start your entry with your class period, and both first names and last initials (example: P1 Sammie A and Sally B)

1. Why is the 4th of July such an especially unpleasant day for enslaved people? Be sure to cite evident from the text to support your answer.
2. Who does Frederick Douglass blame for the continuation of slavery in America? Be sure to cite evidence from the text to support your answer.
3. Douglass says that he "has hope" for the abolition of slavery in the United States. On what does he base that hope? Be sure to cite evidence from the text to support your answer.

1.