On September 22nd, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, ordering the freeing of slaves in any Confederate state that did not cease fighting and return to the Union within 100 days. No Confederate states returned by the deadline, and Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Louis Masur, author of “Lincoln’s Hundred Days,” talks about his book as well as what led up to the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. He details why the document was issued as an executive order and discusses Lincoln’s changing opinions on slavery and the Union. President Lincoln’s Cottage hosted this event.