After some early trading expeditions, the first Dutch<span> settlement in the Americas was founded in 1615: Fort Nassau, on Castle Island along the Hudson, near present-day Albany. The settlement served mostly as an outpost for trading in fur with the native Lenape tribespeople, but was later replaced by Fort Orange.</span>
It started september 1, 1939 .
Okay, so, Lincoln had to wait for a Union victory. Antietam Was the victory he needed.
The Emancipation Proclamation changed the course of the war. It went from defeating the Rebels of the South to freeing the slaves. In every place that the Union army could take, the Slaves were all freed. This was a huge boost to the troops. They were now fighting to free people. Freeing all the slaves would have done nothing to keep the men fighting. the fight needed a better cause. Is there a better cause than Freedom? Fighting to unite the Country and fighting for freedom are far different things. Even today fighting for freedom is still top on everyones list.
I hope this helped you. :)