7. why did lincoln need a military victory before he could announce the emancipation of slaves in southern states?

Hey there,
He didn't want the Emancipation Proclamation to look like an act of desperation. It would look bad on the national and international scale if Lincoln issued the proclamation after a Union loss. Rather, after winning a major battle, the Union could issue the Proclamation in a display of confidence.

Hope this helps :))

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