The Emancipation Proclamation was real and freed people. Self-Emancipation would be limited without it. President Lincoln began his administration thinking it marked the beginning of the end for slavery and the slave power. As the war progressed Lincoln became convinced that more had to be done. He preferred action at the level of the state legislatures because it would be "court-proof." Even after he settled on an Emancipation Proclamation as a military measure, Guelzo argues that Lincoln did not see any contradiction between it and colonization or compensated emancipation in loyal areas of the union that still had slavery. This book deftly deals with the nuances of Lincoln's policy towards emancipation, the roles of the military leaders, battles, Congress, pro- and anti- administration politicians, journalists, public opinion, etc., on the road to the Emancipation Proclamation. But that was not the stopping point. Lincoln continued to push for legislative soultions. By February 1865 six states ended slavery and Congress had sent what would become the 13th amendment to the states for ratification. ( )