Overview

• The document, signed by Abraham Lincoln in 1861, ordered a blockade of Southern ports to counter the Confederacy during the Civil War.
• Purchased at auction for $471,000, the document was previously held in a private collection.
• The blockade was part of the strategic 'Anaconda Plan' designed to suffocate the Southern economy by controlling its ports.
• The document will be on public display in Springfield until February 2025, highlighting its historical importance.
• Governor Pritzker emphasized the document's role in reminding us of the nation's resilience and progress since the Civil War.