In what ways did African Americans shape the course and consequences of the Civil War?

African Americans played an important role in the Civil War. At the very beginning of the war, African Americans weren’t allowed to fight for the North. However, that changed, and by 1862, 10% of the army was African American. African Americans also served in the navy. They made up slightly less than 20% of the navy. Additionally, some runaway slaves helped the North by being guides and spies. African Americans played an important role for...

African Americans played an important role in the Civil War. At the very beginning of the war, African Americans weren’t allowed to fight for the North. However, that changed, and by 1862, 10% of the army was African American. African Americans also served in the navy. They made up slightly less than 20% of the navy. Additionally, some runaway slaves helped the North by being guides and spies. African Americans played an important role for the North.

African Americans weren’t allowed to fight for the South until the very end of the war. The southerners were too afraid that the slaves would use the weapons and revolt against the slave owners. African Americans worked on the plantations during the Civil War. For every African American that worked on the plantation, that allowed another white southerner to go and fight. African Americans did serve the southern army by being cooks or nurses, but they weren’t allowed to fight until the very end of the war.

One of the reasons why President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation was that he knew it could weaken the South militarily. While it was mainly symbolic, it was viewed as a military action against the South that could potentially weaken the South’s war effort.