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>> mcclellan now holds key battle plans that can ensure his army's success and personal redemption. it's a victory that would allow lincoln to redefine the war, giving soldiers like robert gould shaw a reason to fight, and create the new america frederick douglass has hoped for. >> there is a great deal of excitement for the issuing of the emancipation proclamation. saving the union and emancipation are one. it's this game-changing event. but there was a belief that lincoln might not do it. >> father. what if lincoln doesn't sign the proclamation? >> then we keep fighting. haven't come this fa...

>> george's father was a white man. not by my choice. but it did enable him to pass as white, and he enlisted in the army. i hear he fought bravely. sir, the black man is willing to fight. and any man fighting for his freedom can bear the strength of 10 men. you just have to let him. >> lincoln is caught between his desire to end slavery and his need to keep anti-abolition northerners on his side. whatever step lincoln takes, it must be in accordance with the constitution if it's to have any chance of success. >> congress passes two very important pieces of legislation. one is the militia act ...

>> forward, march. it announces to the south and to the world that the north is no longer fighting to preserve they are fighting to create a new one. although it's lincoln who becomes known as the great emancipator, it's douglass who heroically leads the charge, first freeing himself and then a people. the war is far from over but the emancipation proclamation is the first step towards a new america where all men are truly created equal. [ counter clicking ]

Lincoln must give the union cause greater meaning if he's to have any hope of winning the war. >> pardon, sir. >> please, come in. uh... y-you had a son that died, too, didn't you? >> my george was killed a year ago. >> so many [sighs] sons have died in this war. >> george's father was a white man. not by my choice. but it did enable him to pass as white, and he enlisted in the army. i hear he fought bravely. sir, the black man is willing to fight. and any man fighting for his freedom can bear the strength of 10 men. you just have to let him. >> lincoln is caught between his desire to end slav...

He was just tired. so, after 21 months of fighting to save the union, abraham lincoln turns the civil war into a fight to free the slaves. >> if my name goes down in history, it will be for this act. ♪ ♪ that will do. in giving freedom to the slave we assure freedom to the free. we shall nobly save or meanly lose the last, best hope on earth. ♪ ♪ >> it is coming! it's on the wire! [ cheers and applause ]