What was a result of the Emancipation Proclamation?

The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, was a pivotal moment in American history that specifically targeted the institution of slavery in the Confederate states. Its primary outcome was to declare that all enslaved people in Confederate-held territories were to be freed. This action aligned with the Union's war effort, as it aimed to weaken the Confederate states by depriving them of their labor force.

The proclamation didn't immediately free all slaves across the nation, nor did it apply to the border states that remained loyal to the Union. It was a strategic move intended to bolster the Union’s military efforts and also lay the groundwork for the eventual abolition of slavery throughout the United States, which would be finalized with the ratification of the 13th Amendment in 1865.

The other options do not accurately represent the historical impact of the Emancipation Proclamation. While it did not lead to the immediate freedom of all slaves or allow states to choose their status regarding slavery, its direct action was to free those enslaved individuals in regions still in rebellion against the Union, making the statement about freeing slaves in Confederate-held areas the correct interpretation of its result.