17. Why did Lincoln need a military victory before he could announce the emancipation of slaves in southern states? A. The North didn't have a single victory up until this point. B. The South might accept emancipation if it looked like the North could win the war. C. Union soldiers wouldn't support emancipation if they didn't have a winning record. D. He didn't want the Emancipation Proclamation to look like an act of desperation.