African Americans During the Civil War

by Deford, Deborah H.

• ISBN13: 9780816061389
• ISBN10: 0816061386
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-03-30
• Publisher: Facts on File

Summary

During the Civil War, slaves faced a quickly changing environment, caught between the opposing sides. While Northern African Americans eventually were permitted to join the battle for the Union, some Southern African Americans revolted against their owners. Whatever their opportunity for involvement in the war effort, African Americans struggled for a Union victory that would bring them closer to freedom. African Americans during the Civil War explores this intriguoing time in American history. Topics include: *The U.S. War Department's Bureau for Colored Troops *African Americans in the Union Army *Legislation, including the Compromise of 1850, the Fugitive Slave Acts, and the Kansas-Nebraska Act *Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation and its impact on African Americans *Racism in both Northern and Southern forces *African-American soldiers as advocates and spokespeople for equal rights.

Table of Contents

Preface to the Series	p. 4
Introduction	p. 13
The First African Americans to Serve	p. 17
African Americans' Right to Fight	p. 31
Raising the "U.S. Colored Troops"	p. 43
Racism in the Ranks, North and South	p. 55
Fighting for Equality	p. 65
The Proof of Their Manhood	p. 77
The Occupation Army	p. 89
Time Line	p. 104
Glossary	p. 107
Further Reading	p. 108
Index	p. 109
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

During the Civil War, slaves faced a quickly changing environment, caught between the opposing sides. While Northern African Americans eventually were permitted to join the battle for the Union, some Southern African Americans revolted against their owners. Whatever their opportunity for involvement in the war effort, African Americans struggled for a Union victory that would bring them closer to freedom. African Americans during the Civil War explores this intriguoing time in American history.
Topics include:
The U.S. War Department's Bureau for Colored Troops
African Americans in the Union Army
Legislation, including the Compromise of 1850, the Fugitive Slave Acts, and the Kansas-Nebraska Act
Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation and its impact on African Americans
Racism in both Northern and Southern forces
African-American soldiers as advocates and spokespeople for equal rights.