When Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, he changed the course of the Civil War and transformed the lives of millions of enslaved blacks. Looking back through the lens of the 21st century, we can easily appreciate the profound consequences of this one act. But history is lived forward, not backward, and in early 1862, many of Lincoln's most ardent supporters worried that he might never make this fundamental break with the past. Why did Lincoln hesitate, and how did he ultimately prepare the country for this enormous step forward? His ability to lead in a collaborative manner helped him to steer the country through a difficult and challenging time.