Experience of African American's during the Civil War Flashcards
Why could black men not join the Union Army in 1861?
A law had been passed in 1792 that prevented them from joining
Why did slaves work for the Confederate army?
Hoped they would earn their freedom
However they weren’t able to fish instead would build defences or move supplies
What happened as the Union began to take southern land ?
Slaves chose to escape from their plantations
made to do labour tasks
What was the South’s response to slaves being used for labour?
Outrage and demanded the return of hostages
Union army argued that due to the souths belief that slaves were property, not people they could not possibly be hostages
What law was passed by Lincoln in 1862
Slaves could legally be held as contraband of war and could work for the army instead of being sent back to their masters
What happened after 1862
Slaves started to be allowed to join the army
What was the Second confiscation act
Slave owning lands taken by the North automatically became free
Who were the 54th Massachusetts Coloured Regiment
First Northern black regiment formed from freed slaves
70% of Northern black men joined the army (33,000)
Who were the First South Carolina Volunteers
First union army regiment formed from freed slaves-1862
The Emancipation Proclamation-1863
if the confederacy did not surrender before the end of the year he would free every slave
make slaves free forever
slavery would either triumph or be abolished
What was Equal Pay?
Black soldier granted free pay in June 1864 but still could not serve as officers
What was the Conscription Act?
All men aged 20-45 had to join the Union Army
Rich men could avoid by paying $300
What was the public response to conscription?
Carried out 4 days of lynching, burning, drowning and beating black citizens
