Abraham Lincoln in the 3rd year of the American civil war issued the Emancipation Proclamation that stated that all slaves in the confederate states will henceforth be freed when the union wins the war.
Abraham Lincoln was the president of America during the civil war and he made the Emancipation Proclamation in his speech. so to get specific and not General information on the Emancipation Proclamation, grabbing a copy of his speech on the Emancipation Proclamation will give you the specific information you seek.
I think they are still used and relevant today because people know that they are very significant. people take that they were written long ago into consideration and that makes it more valuable
Both feminists and Civil Rights activists wanted equal rights for all. Feminists want men and women to be equal, and Civil Rights Activists wanted white and coloured people to be equal. Hope this helps :)