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African Americans In The Civil War Essay

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Throughout the history of the United States, African Americans have always receive the short end of the stick when it comes to being discriminated against for the color of their skin. When Africans first came to America back in the 1600s, African Americans were taken away from their homes and families against their will and then forced to work for a race that consider themselves “superiors”, as laborers. Then their identities were taken away from them and they became slaves. As slaves they were given no pay for their labor and if their owner felt as if they didn’t compete a job or felt that they were disrespectful in anyway, they were badly whipped and beaten to the point of unconsciousness. African Americans have rebelled against their slavery …show more content…

As the war was beginning, ex-slaves wanted to in role to get a piece of the action. They wanted to fight for their freedom and against those who had enslaved them and had separated them from their families for generations. African Americans from all parts of the United States volunteered and tried to enlist. However, wherever they went, they were met with rejection. It was stated by the “History of African-Americans in the Civil War” "In general, white soldiers and officers believed that black men lacked the courage to fight and fight …show more content…

To lead the 54th Massachusetts, Governor Andrew chose personally who would lead the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, he chose Robert Gould Shaw as the leading officer he was a young white male. This Regiment was a proud in proving that African Americans were equals to whites, however this proud movement was short lived because on July 18, 1863, the 54th Massachusetts stormed Fort Wagner. Fort Wagner guarded the Port of Charleston, in South Carolina. This battle was the first time that black troops were used in battle as a infantry attack. Sadly, the 54th Massachusetts lost 600 of its men with Colonel Shaw, this was due to the fact that the Regiment was outgunned and outnumbered. Fort Wagner was protected by 1,700 Confederate soldiers waiting for the

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By the time Grants division get there and start shooting at the Fort, Confederates go after McClernands division. The confederates new that the first ones that shoot, the Union is trying to distract the confederates. So the confederates storm all over McClernands division. Grant then pushes back while McClernand is still fighting. Smith had sent reinforcements to McClernand (Dougherty, 2007).

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Regardless of this, the unit showed extraordinary courage and dedication (“The 54th”). Their attack on Fort Wagner caused great damage on the fort, leading the confederates to leave it soon afterwards (“The 54th”). Glory tells this story almost flawlessly but there are some minor historical inaccuracies throughout the movie: Robert Gould Shaw in the film is shown to accept the job of commanding the

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In addition to fighting, I believe another important motivating factor for both ex-slaves and free black men was to use their service to instill a sense of pride in the African-American people. Slavery was an extremely brutal institution that physically and psychologically damaged

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In the battle scene, the 54th is pinned down and taking massive amounts of enemy fire, and yet none of the soldiers are making any sort of move to fight back. Their comrades are dying all around them, but the men simply lie there in the sand covering their heads. Thus it falls to Colonel Robert Shaw to be the beacon of courage for his men in order to lead them to glory. While the movie is undoubtedly about the struggles of the African American men of the 54th, it cannot be overlooked that at every turn they require guidance and mercy from their benevolent white colonel. It would be unrealistic for a company of African American men to accomplish what they did in the Civil War without Shaw’s help, but it is still worth noting that in some ways this feels largely like movies where the white man comes to save the savages (e.g. Dances With Wolves, Avatar, The Last Samurai).

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The law stated that the Confederates should commit “full and complete retaliation” against such people. Fort Pillow, on the Mississippi River north of Memphis, was built by confederate Brigadier General Gideon Johnson Pillow in early 1862 and was used by both sides during the war. With the fall of New Madrid and Island Number 10 to Union forces, Confederate troops evacuated Fort Pillow on June 4, in order to avoid being cut off from the rest of the Confederate army. Union forces occupied Fort Pillow on June 6 and used it to protect the river approach to Memphis.

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31,945 were fighting for the Union and 21,000 for the Confederates. This

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This may not have been the bloodiest battle of the war but it was surely one of the most costly battles. It had its ups and downs starting with about 97,000 men for the Union and about 57,000 men for the confederates but, in the end it changed the rest of the war’s outcome. All it took was three .57 caliber bullets. This battle occurred on April 30, 1863 to May 6, 1863. As a result in the 7 days battle, it was a magnificent victory for the Confederacy.

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They were given an unfair share of the physical labor in the army and paid three dollars less than the white soldiers. For them it was a battle on two fronts: one with the enemy soldiers and the other with their fellow countrymen; both were battles for freedom. They weren’t fighting just to preserve the Union; in fact, that they were fighting at all was a step towards changing the union forever. On July 18th, 1863, the 54th led an attack against confederate fort Wagner.

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During the war, blacks were used as motivation to fight, they were willing to help fight, and they even worked their way into the politics of the post war

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This paper will examine whether African Americans were able to accomplish any improvement socially or economically because of America’s involvement in the Great War. In previous readings, we know that African Americans made significant contributions to the war effort, many would join in the fight as others would take jobs in support in the war effort. The Great War changed America much like that it changed the world.

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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.

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Post Civil War, African Americans started to gain rights to gain rights, and soon gain rights equal to whites. While there were some people/things standing in their way (KKK, Black Codes), in the end they got what they needed; Equality. Many acts and laws were passed to aid the new rights now held by African Americans, as well as the numerous people willing to help. New Amendments were added to give African Americans rights after the war, all giving them some equal rights to whites. The first of the three added was the Thirteenth Amendment, it gave African Americans freedom from slave owners, and stated that no one could be kept as a slave in the U.S..

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