During the Civil War the Union Army and slaves faced many hardships. Many problems surfaced during the Civil War whether it was for the Army or for the African Americans serving in the Army in the North. Not only were the African Americans fighting for the Union, they were fighting for their own freedom as well. The African Americans were not only helping themselves, but improving the union army. Even though they might have been considered equal to the Union, they were not always treated as equals compared to other white soldiers. Slaves are said to be freed by Abraham Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation, but they made the first steps into getting their own freedom. During the Civil War, a series of laws were introduced known as the …show more content…
They were considered as people, but because of their race they were subjected to unfair treatment and punishment by the Union Army. As stated by James A. Corrick in The Civil War and Emancipation, “White soldiers resented having to serve with blacks even though they were not in the same regiments.” The fact that the African Americans were serving with whites angered many of those in the Union Army, even though they were not serving together in close quarters. It was not just low ranking soldiers who refused to work with blacks either. Some high ranking military officers rejected to lead black regiments. Schomp also wrote that “Segregated units were almost always under white officers.” It was difficult for blacks to advance into higher rankings in the military. There was not equal pay between whites and blacks in the Union Army. As stated by Thomas Streissguth, writer of The Civil War: The North, African Americans received lower pay than the whites. African Americans were, “Only paid $10/month with $3 withheld for uniforms and equipment.” In truth, they only made $7 dollars a month. They were also given inferior equipment and medical supplies. White are reported to have made $13 a month and no money was withheld for uniforms and equipment. The white made six dollars more than the blacks. There were a some black soldiers who refused to accept the lower …show more content…
These soldiers and other workers brought strength in numbers as according to Virginia Schomp there was, “180,000 African American soldiers” and, “Another 200,000 African American men and women served as scouts, spies, laborers, blacksmiths, nurses, and guides.” All of these men and women worked for the Union Army. According to Susan Altman, author of Extraordinary African American from Colonial to Contemporary Times, African Americans “fought fiercely, rather die than surrender.” The African American soldiers showed courage that no one thought they had. A number of black soldiers won awards for their service. Altman wrote that, “Sixteen won nationals highest award, the Congressional Medal of Honor.” Thousands were wounded and 68, 178 died or were missing, as stated by Altman. There were many African American women who were spies for the Union Army. Some of these women include Harriet Tubman and Mary Elizabeth Bowser. There were even husband and wife duo’s who would create secret code. One of the most famous African American spies was Harriet Tubman. Altman wrote that Tubman worked many different professions for the war including a nurse, cook, and a spy for the Union Army. Tubman disguised herself as an old slave women. It was easy for her to move around easily without being suspected and would gather intel on the location of the ammo, cotton,
In the early 19th century, slavery had been the main issue in America. The issue of slavery got critical that it separated America. The north (Union) prohibited slavery in America, while the south (Confederate) allowed slavery. However, majority of African-Americans were treated poorly in America. In the Union Army, Colonel Robert Gould Shaw was given “to raise and command one of the first regiments of African American troops in the Union army, the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, by Massachusetts Governor John A. Andrew.”
information, she will help the slaves escape from the plantations. As a former slave, Harriet Tubman was able to earn their trust and have them reveal critical information. Tubman reported all her intelligence to her handler, Colonel James Montgomery, a Union officer commanding the Second South Carolina Volunteers, a black unit involved in guerrilla warfare activities (Rose, 2011). Tubman and Colonel Montgomery worked together previously to raise the second South Carolina Colored Infantry Regiment. They shared common goals, vision and passion for the Civil War.
The other aspect that changed the perception was the involvement of different religious groups towards ensuring equality to all groups. Why the blacks considered to be weak to be soldiers The thoughts and the remarks were
Harriet Tubman was also known to carry a gun and would threaten to shoot a slave who wanted to return during their journey. Harriet Tubman also helped the union army during the civil war by working as a spy. Harriet Tubman was never captured. A famous
African American demanded the right to serve in combat rather than support the cause, and once given access to combat roles, it was difficult to desegregate the armed forces. Even
Harriet helped organize a scouting service for African Americans males to help lead expeditions into the enemy territory seeking strategic information ("Harriet
Harriet Tubman became famous for her work on the underground railroad and for serving as a spy, scout, and nurse during the Civil War. Tubman was born into the life of slavery and worked as a field hand until 1849, when she escaped without her husband and family in order to help them find a way out of slavery. Afterwards, she began to work as a “conductor” on the Underground Railroad where she risked her life to save her family and hundreds of other escaped slaves. Tubman’s resistance did not end with slavery, but continued on with the eruption of the Civil War. For over three years Tubman worked to aid the wounded and ill, gather information from rebel camps, and helped Colonel James Montgomery make several raids in the southern coastal areas.
They represented the interests of all African Americans, and they started to make decisions based on ones which would make their lives better, because they still faced many hard ships even though they were now equal to whites. African Americans greatly shaped the outcome and consequences of the Civil War. They were the cause of it, they played a key role in the battles, and they effected the political make up regarding African Americans, of not only the South, but the whole country. If the African Americans had not played a role in the war, the north may have still won because of their size, but the odds are that there would still be slavery and or segregation in the United States
The act also made Harriet more militant during her missions, such as carrying a firearm. Harriet Tubman took part in many great establishments, jobs, and protests. She saved an estimated 50 people from slavery using The Underground Railroad. Harriet quoted that she was “Never caught and never lost a passenger”. Harriet was later called into service as a union spy for the civil war due to her knowledge of transportation routes.
She never learned how to read or write. She worked as a nurse during the Civil War in 1861 and helped take care of sick soldiers with herbal medicines that she learned about. Harriet was a spy for the Union Army during the Civil War, which made her the first African American woman in the military. Harriet Tubman had many careers and accomplishments. She is most known for her courage and bravery, and being the leader of the Underground Railroad, helping over 300 slaves get their freedom.
Harriet Tubman was a Civil War nurse, an Abolitionist, Advocate of Women’s Suffrage Movement, Civil Rights activist, Prominent figure in the Underground Railroad, and the first women in America to conduct an armed military raid (Accomplishments”). Harriet Tubman was free for 12 years, in those 12 years Harriet helped turn the Underground Railroad into one of the most important aspects of abolitionism and Harriet became one of the most active Figures in the movement (“Harriet Tubman Summary”). “Harriet Tubman helped shelter the poor and the elderly on the farm in Auburn though she herself struggled financially” (“Harriet Tubman Summary”). Harriet being a Conductor, she guided many slaves to freedom in her lifetime. Harriet, being raised as a slave and being black hasn’t stopped her from achieving these
The African Americans had a big impact on the Civil War. They had to have all of these laws and papers wrote because of the slavery deal. They had the role of the debate for slavery. They were the slaves and they wanted to have their freedom. The Declaration of Independence said that, “All men are created equal”, but the slaves were not free.
She was also a scout and Union spy during the American Civil War (Michals). Harriet endured many struggles, including being beaten by her masters, to get free and represent the needs of
The most famous African American woman in America, Harriet Tubman, was the primary conductor of the famous Underground Railroad. Helping over hundreds of slaves escape their plantation homes in order to become free men and women. This took a lot of guts and nerves! A woman once a slave helping her own kind travel from south to north and trying not to get caught by hound dogs and plantation owners. If slaves were to be caught there punishments would be harsh and could cost them big time!
In the years of the Civil War, African Americans played an important role in contributing to the Union Army and the confederate army. A great deal of African American men volunteered to join the Union Army but only after they gained freedom did they participate in fighting the war. Besides the Union Army, there was the confederate army which consisted of slave labor whom were forced to aid the confederacy following their masters. Later in the war, the Confederacy ran short on men and were in need to supply soldiers, leaving no choice but to enlist the colored men. Not only were African American men impacted from the war, but African American women also served to supply and aid in the war.