Final answer:
The Emancipation Proclamation signed in 1863 declared the freedom of slaves in Confederate states, but its immediate impact was limited due to the lack of Union army presence in those areas. It did not apply to the border states that were not in rebellion. However, it marked a significant step towards ending slavery in America.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Emancipation Proclamation, signed by President Lincoln on January 1, 1863, changed America by declaring that all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State in rebellion against the United States shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free. However, the Proclamation did not immediately free the enslaved individuals in Confederate states, as the Union army's presence was lacking in those areas. Furthermore, it did not apply to the border states that were not in rebellion. Despite its limitations, the Emancipation Proclamation shifted the objective of the war towards ending slavery.