agree
Thanks. You inspired me to look up a few more numbers, as I also used the effective date of the Emancipation Proclamation and the Gettysburg Address in 1863 as my basepoint. So, in 1865, US population was about 30 Million. Suddenly, ~10% increase in population by people who did not chose to risk all seeking a better life in a free country.
I know we all rightfully hate Wikipedia, but here’s this...
“As the Union armies advanced through the Confederacy, thousands of slaves were freed each day until nearly all (approximately 3.9 million, according to the 1860 Census) were freed by July 1865.”
Emancipation Proclamation - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emancipation_Proclamation