African Americans in the

Civil War
 African Americans and the Civil War
1861 - 1865
• At the start of the war, the North’s primary goal was to bring the
South back and restore the Union. However, along the way,
putting an end to slavery became a key focus of the war, changing
the fate of the nation and the lives of African-Americans forever.
 The Civil War Begins

• When the Civil War began in 1861, President Lincoln’s main goal was not to
end slavery, but rather to preserve the Union.
• In fact, at the start of war, blacks volunteered to fight on the side of the
Union and formed own militia companies, but their offers were rejected.
• Union had no real policy on how to deal with black enlistment at start of
war. Depended on each General. Some: ordered slaves to be returned to
owners, others did not return if owner favored secession, others declared
slave's contraband and put them to work.

• Union= North
• Confederacy= South
 Lincoln and Emancipation

• Lincoln began the Civil War in support of…

• Compensated Emancipation: paying slave owners for the freedom of
their slaves
• Colonization: sending freed blacks back to a colony in West Africa

African reaction- anger & unimpressed. Compensation will not pass but
1862 Congress enact bill to pay slave owners in D.C. $300 for each slave
free and $1000,000 to support voluntary colonization– ended in 1864.
• However, as the Civil War dragged on, Lincoln began to consider the
abolition of slavery as a tactic for achieving military victory.
 Liberation

• On September 22, 1862 Lincoln issued the Emancipation

Proclamation, declaring that slaves living in states in rebellion
on January 1, 1863, would be freed. Did not include border
states.
• While this of course angered Southern States, it successfully
undermined the South and contributed to Union victory, just
as Lincoln had hoped.
 Black Men Fight for the Union

• The Emancipation Proclamation cleared the way for the

enlistment of black troops in the Union army.
• However, the actual recruitment and deployment of black
troops did not proceed smoothly, as many whites still
believed blacks would not make good soldiers. All black
Regiments had white officers and were paid less than whites.
• 54th Regiment refused to accept pay for two years until they
received equal pay.
 Black Men Fight for the Union

• Following the Emancipation Proclamation, the most famous

black unit to fight for the Union formed, the 54th Massachusetts
Regiment.
• Black Committee (Douglas, Delaney) helped recruit soldiers for
the North.
• The 54th Massachusetts Regiment, led by Colonel Robert Gould
Shaw (white), was the first all-black military unit to fight for
the North. Their bravery and sacrifice in battle helped to
combat the myth that blacks made poor soldiers.
Black Men Fight for the Union

• *Key Idea*
• Despite discrimination and the belief
that blacks would not make good
combat soldiers, African Americans
participated in every major battle of
the war after the Emancipation
Proclamation.
 The Confederate Reaction to Black Soldiers

• Confederate leaders and soldiers did not recognize black

men as real soldiers, even going as far as executing
captured blacks.
• In response, Union leaders promised to retaliate for the
mistreatment of black soldiers.

• Fort Pillow Massacre-1864 leads Lincoln to issue

General Order 11( to punish those responsible when
they were apprehended) but no one was ever punished.

• In South, This stop killings but did not prevent trial by

jury. Many blacks sent to prison camps.
 The Confederate Reaction to Black Soldiers

• Despite the risks, blacks served the Union cause in a variety of

ways, acting as…

• Soldiers
• Liberators (of Southern Slaves)
• Spies
• Guides (through Southern Territory)
Opposition to Black People

• Despite their contribution to the war

effort, many white Northerners
remained resentful and even hostile to
African Americans.
• During the New York City Draft Riots of
1863, white Northerners attacked and
even killed blacks as a way of
protesting a war they felt had become
about helping black people
 Did you know?

• The Confederacy relied on slave labor to help sustain its war

effort.
• In fact, towards the end of the war, the Confederate Congress
approved:
1. Conscription law- 20 or more slaves=exempt from service
2. the enlistment of 300,000 black soldiers to fight for the
South, would receive equal pay, & not freed.
However, by then defeat was inevitable.
 Activity #1- Did Lincoln Free the Slaves or Did
the Slaves Free themselves
• Complete the following:
1. With a partner, read the documents and answer guided
questions.
2. Create a chart providing evidence from the document to
support 2 arguments: did slaves free themselves or Lincoln.
Then write your conclusion (personal belief and explain
why).
 Activity #2- 54th Regiment

Using the internet source provided on the sheet, read

about the 54th Regiment and their success and then
complete web-quest.