Civil War Dbq Essay

African Americans played a major role in the causes and effects of the Civil War. Between 1861 and 1870, African American slaves went from being the reason why the war started to changing the nation to allow more rights for blacks. Before the war, African Americans were treated horribly whether they were free or enslaved. There were many occurrences that diminished the rights of blacks. Due to the fact that African American slaves were running away from their owners to the North, the Fugitive Slave Act was established in the Compromise of 1850. It forced the North to help capture runaway slaves, but much of the North did not adhere to it. The Dred Scott v. Sanford decision also affected black slaves negatively. It ruled that Congress could

However, following the events that took place at the Battle of Antietam, President Lincoln was able to pass the Emancipation Proclamation, which stated that all slaves in a rebellious state would be considered free. This would not go into effect until after the war, but it allowed African Americans to join the Union Army. This was a great step forward for black soldiers, but Lincoln still received backlash for his decision. Lincoln wrote to those who opposed his decision that he wished for all men, regardless of race, to be free and that why should African Americans do anything for them if they will do nothing for them in return (Document C)? This did not please Lincoln’s intended audience for this letter, which were those who were against the Proclamation, because it had truth in saying that African Americans should also be given the promise of freedom. This ushered a shift in the Union’s purpose for fighting the war. Initially, they were fighting to preserve the Union, but now they were also fighting for the end of the practice and expansion of slavery. The Republican Party described their support for this change of motives, stating that they endorsed the proposed amendment that prohibited the use of slavery (the 13th Amendment) and granted protection of the laws to all men, black or white (Document D). Their purpose was to establish their approval for the abolition of slavery and to officially

Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House and the Civil War was over, African Americans still had to fight for complete equality. President Johnson, Lincoln’s successor, did not push for African American rights after the war and tried to bring the US to the same position that they were in before the war. Congress opposed him, however, creating the 14th Amendment, which granted African Americans full citizenship. This was an essential step for blacks in order to fully achieve equal rights. Blacks then argued that since they were now citizens, they should be given the right to vote as well. A proceeding from the Convention of the Colored People of Virginia stated that for all men to have a say in their rights, they should tear down the restriction on the color of their skin for voting (Document H). Their purpose in saying this was to voice the thoughts that many blacks had in order to encourage them to fight for it. Their efforts were not done in vain as the 15th Amendment was passed, which destroyed the suffrage restraint against race. Although this act did not apply to black women, it was a movement in the right direction nonetheless. African Americans were also able to further advance their positions in society by obtaining government positions and participating in state constitutional conventions. Between 1867 and 1868, blacks took part in the state conventions of many Southern states, even representing 61% of South Carolina’s state