African Americans In The Civil War Essay
Slave or soldier: The terrible fates of African-Americans during the Civil War
The role of African-Americans in the war and what they did when they served in the army. The Fugitive Slave Act was introduced in 1793. The role of an African-American in the Civil War from 1776-1783 had an effect for both the Union and the Confederates. The north was mainly called the Union but also fell victim to the name of Billy Yank, Jayhawkers, and more commonly known as the Yankees. The South on the other hand were sometimes called the Rebs for rebels and also the Graybacks. The Civil War began when several southern states seceded from the union by joining the Confederate States of America. The south seceded in a response to president Lincoln’s anti-slavery law. As the Civil War began, free black men came and volunteered for the Union. President Abraham Lincoln also feared that accepting black men into the military would cause border states like Maryland, Kentucky and Missouri to secede. Free black men were finally permitted to enlist late in 1862, following the passage of the Second Confiscation and Militia Act, which freed slaves who had masters in the Confederate Army, according to Paul D. Escott, an author of the article …show more content…
These roles included work as a nurse, cooks, and blacksmiths. Blacks also served in the Confederate army. However, the majority of the south wouldn’t arm blacks so they used them as labor. Blacks worked on building fortifications and to carry out camp duties. A few slaves would even be brought to camp to tend to their masters and what needs they might have. Escott also states that, At the midpoint of the war in 1863, when more Confederate soldiers were needed, state militias of freed black men were offered to the Confederate war office but refused. The Confederates didn’t consider arming African-American troops until January 2 of 1864 when Confederate major general Patrick Cleburne proposed
The role of African-Americans in the war and what they did when they served in the army. The Fugitive Slave Act was introduced in 1793. The role of an African-American in the Civil War from 1776-1783 had an effect for both the Union and the Confederates. The north was mainly called the Union but also fell victim to the name of Billy Yank, Jayhawkers, and more commonly known as the Yankees. The South on the other hand were sometimes called the Rebs for rebels and also the Graybacks. The Civil War began when several southern states seceded from the union by joining the Confederate States of America. The south seceded in a response to president Lincoln’s anti-slavery law. As the Civil War began, free black men came and volunteered for the Union. President Abraham Lincoln also feared that accepting black men into the military would cause border states like Maryland, Kentucky and Missouri to secede. Free black men were finally permitted to enlist late in 1862, following the passage of the Second Confiscation and Militia Act, which freed slaves who had masters in the Confederate Army, according to Paul D. Escott, an author of the article …show more content…
These roles included work as a nurse, cooks, and blacksmiths. Blacks also served in the Confederate army. However, the majority of the south wouldn’t arm blacks so they used them as labor. Blacks worked on building fortifications and to carry out camp duties. A few slaves would even be brought to camp to tend to their masters and what needs they might have. Escott also states that, At the midpoint of the war in 1863, when more Confederate soldiers were needed, state militias of freed black men were offered to the Confederate war office but refused. The Confederates didn’t consider arming African-American troops until January 2 of 1864 when Confederate major general Patrick Cleburne proposed