U.S. States That Passed Emancipation Laws During the Civil War Era

During the 1860s, several border and Union states enacted their own emancipation measures, separate from the federal Emancipation Proclamation (1863) and 13th Amendment (1865):

• Maryland: New constitution abolished slavery November 1864.
• Missouri: Ordinance of immediate emancipation January 1865 (after gradual 1863 act).
• Tennessee: Military governor Andrew Johnson issued emancipation proclamation October 1864; ratified by voters 1865.
• West Virginia: Admitted as state June 1863 with gradual emancipation in constitution; full abolition February 1865.

These were state-level actions, not federal. The Emancipation Proclamation applied only to Confederate-held areas; the 13th Amendment abolished slavery nationwide (Dec 1865).