African Americans and the Civil WarChapter 4 Section 2

Enslaved African Americans Seek Revenge• Treated as a contraband or captured war supply in the Union

hands• Some in Missouri under Fremont became free – later reversed

due to being a border state• Lincoln thinking of the right time to issue an order dealing

with emancipation – did not want to appear desperate

Antietem• Single bloodiest day of the Civil War – more than 23,000

soldiers dead or wounded• Lincoln had the victory he needed to declare emancipation

Emancipation Proclamation• Freed all people in places of rebellion after January 1, 1863 –

in reality did not free a single slave• Impact • North – redefined the war as being “about slavery,” increased

enlistment of African American soldiers – Militia Act allowed them to enlist

• South – Put an end to any thought of peaceful negotiation, will be a war until the end

African Americans Join The Fight• 54th Massachusetts – First all black regiment – known for

Battle at Fort Wagner• Slaves in South help the Union – spies, scouts, sabotage farms