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Confederate Poster Essay

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The Civil War was an ugly fight between the South, which was fighting to keep slavery, and the North, which was fighting for African American's freedom and to eradicate slavery so the South can stay with the Union. During the Civil War both the North and the South needed the help of African American slaves, because both did not have enough people working on their sides. Both sides' armies had very different views on where the African Americans should be placed for their military service. One way we clearly can see this is through the recruitment posters from both sides. A Confederate recruitment poster shows that the South viewed African Americans as race who aren't their own person, and only are able to do labor for the army. This Confederate …show more content…

The poster is different because it is directed to the African Americans like they have every right to. They are being addressed as their own person and are told that they can fight for their people's freedom. The very title of this Union poster's recruiment poster is clear who the audience. "COLORED CITIZENS, TO ARMS!" This shows the audience are African Americans. Unlike the first poster, this one is directed at them like they are their own person, which they are. This one isn't as forward as the title, however we can assume from this what the military role African Americans would play. "Who would be Free, Himself must Strike the Blow!" This shows, from the part, "Himself must Strike the Blow," the role they would play was they would be on the front lines, fighting for their own people's freedom, and not as laborers and slaves for the white people like in the South. Like in the last poster, money is the main reason why plantation owners may be offered up their slaves. Money is also used to persuade free African Americans to become part of the Union army."$375 IN CASH and $10 additional paid to any Recruit who comes, or any one bringing a Recruit." This part of the poster might have been what got them to sign up, if it wasn't already to fight for their fellow brothers and sisters in shackles. They are offered a lot of money for themselves if they

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