lincoln to change his mind. >> word is leaked that the president is going to make a big announcement about emancipation. but frederick douglass isn't sure of that. he continues to doubt lincoln's resolve for the cause. ♪ ♪ >> mr. president is anything the matter? >> i just need a moment. >> the emancipation proclamation is the result of a nearly two-year-long battle to define what the civil war means -- to the soldiers in uniform to over 3 million enslaved african-americans, and to lincoln himself. when lincoln takes office, he tries to prevent the looming civil war by reaffirming his belief in the south's constitutional right