Civil War Contraband (U.S. Civil War) Tumbler 20oz

"Civil War Contraband" refers to enslaved people and their property who escaped from Confederate-held territories during the American Civil War (1861-1865) and came under the control of Union forces, either by capture in battle or by seeking refuge behind Union lines. The term "contraband" initially denoted these individuals and their possessions as military supplies, although over time, it came to be more widely used to refer to escaped slaves themselves. The Emancipation Proclamation of 1862 declared contrabands to be "forever free," marking a significant turning point in the struggle for abolition. This term and the events surrounding it played an important role in the broader context of emancipation and the end of slavery during and following the Civil War.