Civil War Contraband (U.S. Civil War) Color Changing Coffee Mug 11oz

Civil War Contraband (U.S. Civil War) The term "contraband" during the U.S. Civil War referred to enslaved people who had managed to flee plantations and enter Union-controlled territory, either directly or by being captured. The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 declared such individuals as "thenceforward and forever free," but their status remained uncertain until the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in 1865. Despite their freedom, these people were often exploited as laborers within Union camps due to their lack of legal rights or means of support. The management and use of contraband labor during the Civil War became a significant issue for both military strategists and political leaders.