The Fight for Freedom
African Americans Before the Civil War
In the United States of America, before the Civil War, there was segregation in Southern states. Men, women, and children of African decent were brought to America by cargo ships to work in the hot Dixie fields filled with tobacco and other valuable crops. Most of these people were forced to work as slaves on plantations where they gathered the crops and got very little or no pay, food, water, or shelter. These African Americans and other non-white races were treated very harshly and sometimes harassed by people who did not accept their nationality or skin color. Some even became desperate enough that they tried to escape the pain and suffering. That all changed on April 12, 1861 when the south fired on the North jump-starting the Civil War.
The Beginning of the War
When African Americans heard about the war they realized something; if they could win the war they wouldn't be slaves anymore! Multitudes of African Americans rushed to be enlisted in the war. Despite the desire to serve African Americans were denied enlistment by the government. Congress and many others believed that the war would be short and that the South stood no match against the North. Some believe that African Americans didn't have the right and wouldn't have the same commitment as a white soldier would. Other people didn't care about the war and only didn't want the south to break off. Many people feuded over what side what state should take. Then the half of the Union's most highly trained troops were lost. President Lincoln made a statement soon after and said, If black men didn't fight, all the white men would be sacrificed in the war. Another famous man named Fredrick Douglass, who was a black abolitionist, said, [If he serves in battle valiantly] then there is no power that can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship in the U.S. Both great men believed that African Americans were abled and committed to serve, but Lincoln realized that the country wasn't ready to accept blacks fighting with white men in the Union army so he waited for the right time. He was scared to proclaim that African Americans could fight in the war and be free because he thought thought that, "half would fling down their arms, and three more states would rebel". But Lincoln said something that would help change their minds. "You say you will not fight to free Negroes. Some of them seem willing to fight for you...When this is all over there will be some black men who can remember that, they haved helped manking on this great consummation", meaning that Lincoln thought that African Americans were ready to serve. So on Sept. 22 1863 President Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation to the public for the first time, and made his final copy of it on January 1, 1864.
Creating the Regiment
When it was known that African American regiments could be formed, Massachusetts was the first to create one. First they created the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts. Governor John A. Andrew appointed Colonel Robert Gould Shaw to command the regiment. Colonel Robert Gould Shaw had helped escaped slaves find places to live or ways to escape and get to free states. Most of these slaves had ran away to Yankee Army camps where soldiers were held. Some of the slaves even helped carry weapons and ammunitions to help fight. The soldiers called these runaway slaves "contrabands", which were things taken from the enemy that were useful. To help advertise the new regiment the governor put up help wanted signs. After that African Americans were in every battle during the Civil War.
Unreasonable Doubt
People who thought that black soldiers wouldn't fight as well as a white soldiers had no right to think that way. After Africans were brought over to America to work as servants but never became free, they became know as slaves and everyone looked down on them. On July
18, 1863 the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts rushed Fort Wagner in South Carolina. Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and his men marched for a very long time with only a single rest and then got to a heavily armed and fortified fort. They immediately took heavy fire. Troops were falling hard to the ground as they ran 200 yards on foot. Colonel Shaw even took a bullet. The flag bearer also took a shot and fell to the ground. Sergeant William H. Carney saw the flag bearer drop to the ground, but caught the flag before it hit the ground. He took it, ran to the wall of the fort, scaled the wall then placed the flag on the fort while taking bullets. The 54th Regiment was forced to retreat because it had no reinforcements from any other white regiment. Although they lost the battle and half their men the regiment showed they were strong, brave, and courageous enough to be called soldiers in the Union army.
Victorious
They had done it! The 54th Regiment of Massachusetts had shown everyone who doubted that African Americans would make good soldiers. They had earned the respect of their country. By the end of the war African Americans were seen differently. They and gained rights then hadn't had before. They could fight for their country and get equal pay. I feel this opened up the doors for soldiers of today, because you won't be denied enlistment because of your ethnicity and you can fight for your own rights and freedom. Some African Americans were honored for their extra-ordinary performances in battle. There were 38,000 black troops in the Union Army that had died. Thirty-five percent of the African Americans in American of that time had served in the Civil War. They all made up thirteen-percent of the Union Army. On July 12, 1862, twenty-three of the 1,523 Medals of Honor were given out to African Americans. The first to receive a medal was Sergeant William H. Carney of the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts. He received a medal for his performance at Fort Wagner. African Americans were even more greatly respected. In the end although African Americans wanted to help free slaves in the south they were denied enlistment in the civil war. They protested for these rights to fight and earned the right to enlist in the army.