President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was much more than just a series of words on a page. It was a document that promised freedom for those living in the United States as slaves. The history behind the Emancipation Proclamation is presented to readers in a way that sheds new light on this common social studies curriculum topic. While the clear main text and informative sidebars provide fascinating facts about this document, readers also gain valuable information from graphic organizers and historical images. Many of these images are primary sources, including the text of the Emancipation Proclamation itself.