African Americans Influence on Civil War
In what way the African Americans shaped the course and consequences of the Civil War?
African Americans helped shape the civil war in many ways. In fact, they were basically the underlying cause for the war in the first place. African Americans were slaves and had been treated like property since they first arrived in America. Therefore, the possibility of freedom for these slaves caused a big uproar in the south. The issue of equal rights for African Americans, the country’s ignorance to African American’s abilities and willingness to learn caused a divide between the states. The strong differing opinions about slavery led to what is known as the bloodiest U.S. war of all time. The main reason for the war was based upon many differing opinions in America. Eleven states of the South seceded from the Union after Lincoln’s inauguration. There had been tension between the North and the South prior to the election. President Lincoln began the Civil War with the South in response to states’ secession from the Union not particularly over slavery. The North fought in an effort to save the Union while the Confederacy fought to protect states’ rights. African Americans The Union was against slavery, especially President Abraham Lincoln, and wanted the Confederacy to free all slaves. In Doc A, it is clear that Lincoln felt that that African Americans deserved their help, for they had been enslaved by whites for too long. Many people disagreed with this viewpoint; Lincoln’s views on slavery infuriated the Confederacy because they knew it would not be long before freedom for blacks became a reality. Many people were uncertain about whether blacks were free or still enslaved during this time. Due to the recent enforcement of the emancipation proclamation, it was unclear whether African Americans were free or still slaves. Equality for African Americans had been an issue that had been building for many years, and was finally breaking through. During the civil war,
African Americans helped shape the civil war in many ways. In fact, they were basically the underlying cause for the war in the first place. African Americans were slaves and had been treated like property since they first arrived in America. Therefore, the possibility of freedom for these slaves caused a big uproar in the south. The issue of equal rights for African Americans, the country’s ignorance to African American’s abilities and willingness to learn caused a divide between the states. The strong differing opinions about slavery led to what is known as the bloodiest U.S. war of all time. The main reason for the war was based upon many differing opinions in America. Eleven states of the South seceded from the Union after Lincoln’s inauguration. There had been tension between the North and the South prior to the election. President Lincoln began the Civil War with the South in response to states’ secession from the Union not particularly over slavery. The North fought in an effort to save the Union while the Confederacy fought to protect states’ rights. African Americans The Union was against slavery, especially President Abraham Lincoln, and wanted the Confederacy to free all slaves. In Doc A, it is clear that Lincoln felt that that African Americans deserved their help, for they had been enslaved by whites for too long. Many people disagreed with this viewpoint; Lincoln’s views on slavery infuriated the Confederacy because they knew it would not be long before freedom for blacks became a reality. Many people were uncertain about whether blacks were free or still enslaved during this time. Due to the recent enforcement of the emancipation proclamation, it was unclear whether African Americans were free or still slaves. Equality for African Americans had been an issue that had been building for many years, and was finally breaking through. During the civil war,