Question

why does john green argue that lincoln both freed and didnt free slaves in his emancipation proclamation? lincoln only freed slaves in the border states (where he had no authority to) and not in the south lincoln only freed slaves in the south (where he had no authority to) and not in the border states lincoln freed slaves in both the border states and the areas of the south that had already been conquered by northern troops lincoln didnt free any slaves - the south or the border states

Explanation:

John Green's argument stems from the limited scope and legal authority of the Emancipation Proclamation. The proclamation only applied to enslaved people in Confederate (Southern) states, where Lincoln had no actual governing control at the time, so it did not immediately free them there. It intentionally excluded enslaved people in the Union border states (slave states that stayed in the Union), where Lincoln did have authority, meaning he did not free enslaved people in those areas. This creates the paradox that the proclamation formally "freed" enslaved people where it could not be enforced, and did not free them where it could be enforced.

Answer:

Lincoln only freed slaves in the South (where he had no authority to) and not in the border states