African Americans During The Civil War Dbq Analysis

For years before the Civil War many countries and populations had slaves. Many were innocent people have been enslaved by their religion, their skin, their class, or native culture. For example the Israelites were enslaved by the Egyptians and the Jews by the Nazis all because of religion. Native people in Central America and the Caribbean were taken by the Spanish to work for no pay and for no reason. Others have been enslaved by their skin like in the American Civil War innocent Africans were taken from their homes and forced to work for no pay, their class was very low and no one wanted them as citizens. African Americans used various methods to fight for their freedom during the Civil War such as passing information to the Union Army,

All their actions helped us win the war. Slaves would escape their plantations under the cover of darkness to travel north. A large portion that wanted to help, by that they would give information to the Union generals on what the Confederates were planning to do (Doc. 1). During battles, slaves would run back and forth on the battlefield, dodging bullets, to get their message across. It was very dangerous and were risking their lives for what they believed in. Not even on the battlefield many wished to join the Union. All of them knew once they crossed Union lines they could be free. Their thirst for freedom was great (Doc. 2). However they were not always treated equal. What was difficult about going north? The journeys up to the north were horrendous. The routes held many challenges. Common challenges were weather, pro slavery white people, they risked getting shot, and worst they could be captured(Doc. 2). Lots of antislavery leaders, like Frederick Douglass, wrote editorials on the subject and held peaceful protests against it. Frederick Douglass was an African American man who was against slavery from the start. He escaped on a train and was free in the north (OI). He wrote an abolition newspaper called the North Star that helped raise awareness on how terrible this was (Doc. 3). Douglass stated in an article saying that slaves “would never be done away with” (Doc. 3). Frederick hinted at African American philosophers and statesmen to come up with a plan (Doc. 3). Union armies needed more people; the escaped slaves were happy to help, joining the Union’s side. (Doc. 4). Unfortunately, they were not allowed to fight as equals to the white soldiers. Their pay was less, their weapons inferior. One example of an African American soldier in the Union army was a letter from Samuel Cabble. In his letter he writes to his family that the army has accepted him and