Lincoln believed that by this action he would not only give freedom to the slaves, but also help the war end more quickly, bring peace, expand the population, and had an impact on the economy (Lincoln146). The Emancipation Proclamation declared that every slave under the nation would be free. If this document had never been signed by Abraham Lincoln, then there would not have been this first step towards the abolition of slavery. President Lincoln's signing of this document recognizes him as the great emancipator because he took the first step toward abolishing slavery. Although it was only declared for the first time in the designated states, it gave a sense of hope to other slaves that there is a chance for them to be