1. Chapter 11 African Americans and the Civil War (1861-1865)

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

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

7. Union Progress ( )

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. “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)

12. A Ride for Liberty - The Fugitive Slaves
SOURCE: Oil on board, The Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Miss Gwendolyn O.L. Conkling.
A Ride for Liberty—The Fugitive Slaves, 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.

13. “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

14. 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!

15. 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

16. Section 2 - Lincoln Delays Emancipation
Waited for a major victory on the battlefield
Did not come until September 1862 at Antietam

17. Battle of Antietam “Bloodiest Single Day of the War”
September 17, 1862
23,000 casualties in one day!

18. Essential Questions
How did Lincoln’s policies on slavery change as the Civil War continued?

21. Emancipation Proclamation
Limited to areas still in rebellion
Did not include border states
Changes war goals
Preserve the Union
Make people free

22. Effects of Proclamation on the South
Ended chance of foreign recognition
Encouraged
Slaves to flee
Slaves to resist

23. 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

24. 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

25. Black Men Fight for the Union (cont.)
Combat
Suffered disproportionately more casualties
Fort Wagner
Olustee
The Crater

26. 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

27. Black Men in the Union Navy
Tradition of serving in the U.S. Navy, 1790s
Integrated

28. IX. Liberators, Spies, and Guides
Black men and women
Robert Smalls
Harriet Tubman
Mary Elizabeth Bowser
John Henry Woodson

29. 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

30. 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.

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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

35. Black Confederates Free black people volunteered services
Show loyalty and gain white acceptance
Southern leaders generally ignored offers unless for menial labor

36. Black Confederates (cont.)
Small number of black men fight for CSA
Some black civilians profit if South wins
John Wilson Buckner
William Ellison

37. 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

38. One week before war ended.
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.

39. 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