President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation on 22 September 1862 freed the slaves in areas still under Confederate control as of what date?

The Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln on September 22, 1862, declared that all slaves in the Confederate states were to be freed as of January 1, 1863. This strategic move was not only a moral stance against slavery but also aimed to weaken the Confederacy's war efforts by depriving it of labor needed for its economy. The proclamation specifically stated that this emancipation would take effect in regions still under rebellion, thus the reference to areas still under Confederate control aligns with the date of January 1, 1863, as the effective date for freeing the slaves. This crucial legislation marked a turning point in the Civil War and in American history, emphasizing Lincoln's commitment to abolishing slavery.