Chapter 11

African Americans and the Civil War

(1861-1865)

Who’s Who in the Civil War

The North = Union, Yankees (blue)– Abraham Lincoln (President)– Numerous leaders, but Ulysses S. Grant at

end of war Strategy: Protect the Union (as in USA)

– Gain control of Southern coast, West via Mississippi River, and in Deep South

– Implement Anaconda Plan to squeeze South

Who’s Who in the Civil War

The South = Confederates, Rebels (grey)– Jefferson Davis (President)– Numerous leaders, but Robert E. Lee at

end of war Strategy: Fight a “War of Attrition”

– Get England or France to help due to cotton needs

– Wear North down

Section 1 - The Civil War Begins

Lincoln’s Aim - Preserve the Union!– Helping/hindering black people was

secondary– Especially concerned about the border

states – keep them with Union cause– Call for 75,000 volunteers to serve for 3

months– Black volunteers rejected

Essential Questions

At the start of the Civil War, what was Abraham Lincoln’s primary objective and how did he work to achieve it?

Union Progress (1861-1862)

Section 1 - Black Men Volunteer and Are Rejected Black population realized that

– Fate of Union was tied to issue of slavery– And the fate of slavery was tied to the outcome

of war They understood this before northerners

– New York, Philadelphia, Boston made various attempts to offer services

– Prepped to be ready whenever called upon to serve

Section 1 - Union Policies toward Confederate Slaves Slaves started liberating themselves as

soon as the war started US Gov’t had no specific policy to deal

with these slaves BUT…Union leaders usually more

concerned for slave owner’s interests

African-American Troops Served as Teamsters

These African-American troops served as teamsters for the Union Army in Virginia. Most Northern white people—including political leaders—believed that black men lacked the courage and fortitude for combat. They expected black men would do little more as soldiers than haul freight, erect fortifications, serve guard duty, and prepare food.

“Contraband” – Fortress Monroe (VA – May 1861) General Benjamin Butler refused to return

three runaway slaves under the terms of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, because Virginia was no longer part of the USA!– Slaves were declared as contraband

(means enemy property)– Leads to First Confiscation Act, August

1861 (clarifies slave status)

A Ride for Liberty - The Fugitive Slaves

A Ride for Liberty—The Fugitive Slaves, 1862. On March 23, 1862, artist Eastman Johnson was with General George B. McClellan’s Army of the Potomac near Manassas, Virginia. Just before dawn, Johnson witnessed a family of three fleeing slavery, and he was prompted to commit the episode to canvas.

SOURCE: Oil on board, The Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Miss Gwendolyn O.L. Conkling.

“Contraband” – Reaction by Black Leaders Upset that Blacks could not enlist Also upset that the issue of slavery

ignored General David Hunter abolished slavery

in areas of SC, GA, and FL– Lincoln revokes order and reprimands him

Section 2 – Lincoln and Emancipation

Lincoln’s initial position = reluctant to move against slavery– Wanted to keep border state loyalty– He supported compensated emancipation-

colonization Black Americans, abolitionists, and

growing number of Republicans were upset that slavery wasn’t abolished by Lincoln!

Section 2 - Lincoln Moves toward Emancipation Realizes that victory in war and the

reestablishment of the Union were tied to slavery issue– Emancipation would “Strike at the heart of

the rebellion”– Tells his cabinet, summer 1862– Warned to wait for major victory so it does

not look like a desperate move by a losing leader

Section 2 - Lincoln Delays Emancipation Waited for a major victory on the

battlefield Did not come until September 1862 at

Antietam

Battle of AntietamBattle of Antietam “Bloodiest Single Day of the “Bloodiest Single Day of the

War”War”

Battle of AntietamBattle of Antietam “Bloodiest Single Day of the “Bloodiest Single Day of the

War”War”

23,000 23,000 casualties in casualties in

one day!one day!

23,000 23,000 casualties in casualties in

one day!one day!

September 17, September 17, 18621862September 17, September 17, 18621862

Essential Questions

How did Lincoln’s policies on slavery change as the Civil War continued?

Emancipation Proclamation

Limited to areas still in rebellion Did not include border states Changes war goals

– Preserve the Union – Make people free

Effects of Proclamation on the South

Ended chance of foreign recognition Encouraged

– Slaves to flee– Slaves to resist

Black Men Fight for the Union

Emancipation Proclamation– Authorized black men to enlist– Union was losing the war and needed

manpower– Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Mass.

Regiment

Black Men Fight for the Union (cont.) Discrimination and hostility

– Segregated units• White officers

– Often held racist beliefs

– Lower pay scale• White privates $13/month• Black privates $10/month

Black Men Fight for the Union (cont.)

Combat– Suffered disproportionately more casualties– Fort Wagner– Olustee– The Crater

Confederate Reaction to Black Soldiers Enraged

– Refused to recognize black men as soldiers

• Treat as rebellious slaves• General Order Number 11

– Fort Pillow Massacre• Union response• Union commanders angry

Black Men in the Union Navy Tradition of serving in the U.S. Navy,

1790s– Integrated

IX. Liberators, Spies, and Guides

Black men and women – Robert Smalls– Harriet Tubman– Mary Elizabeth Bowser– John Henry Woodson

X. Violent Opposition to Black People

New York City Draft Riot, July 1863– Draft – Irish men angry– Rich white northerners could purchase an

exemption• Riot lasted four days

Violent Opposition to Black People (cont.) Union troops and slaves

– Often treated slaves horribly– Others found compassion for enslaved

people• “I have no heart in this war if the slaves cannot

be made free,” a Union soldier wrote.

XI. Refugees

Thousands of black people escaped bondage– Some followed Union armies– Others struck out on their own

• Faced re-enslavement or execution if caught

XII. Black People and the Confederacy Confederacy based on defense of

slavery Benefited from the labors of bonds

people– Toiled in fields– Worked in factories

Black People and the Confederacy (cont.)

Impressment of black people– Military demands for manpower

• Slave owners contributed slave labor• Government first asked then compelled

– Registration and enrollment of free black people military labor

“Twenty nigger law”– Exempted men who owned twenty slaves

from draft

Black People and the Confederacy (cont.) Confederates enslave free black people

• “All free negroes . . . shall be placed on the slave status and be deemed to be chattels. . . forever.”

• Ordered Confederate armies to capture free black people in the North and enslave them.

– Robert E. Lee, Pennsylvania 1863

Black Confederates

– Free black people volunteered services• Show loyalty and gain white acceptance• Southern leaders generally ignored

offers unless for menial labor

Black Confederates (cont.)

Small number of black men fight for CSA– Some black civilians profit if South wins

• John Wilson Buckner• William Ellison

Black Enlistments

General Patrick Cleburne recommends, early 1864– President Davis cease and desist order– Most southerners considered arming slaves

appalling– Defied southern assumptions

• “If slaves will make good soldiers our whole theory of slavery is wrong.”--Howell Cobb

March 1865 Confederate Congress voted to enlist 300,000

• Receive same pay as white soldiers• Slaves freed only with consent of owners and

state agreed

One week before war ended.

XIII. Conclusion

185,000 black soldiers and sailors served in the Union military– Most had been former slaves– Almost 40,000 died in combat or of disease during

the war Abraham Lincoln and the shift in public

attitudes– White man’s war– Colonization– Enlistment– Appreciation