African Americans and the War Chapter 11- The Civil War African Americans and the War

The Push towards Emancipation Lincoln feels pressure to address slavery issue Slavery unpopular in Europe Main reason why GB won’t support Confederacy

Enslaved African Americans seek refuge Union army encounters runaway slaves Gen Butler puts them to work in manual labor camps Declared as contraband

Lincoln’s Plan Begins initial work on emancipation plan in secret For African Americans in the South Wait for a Union victory to announce it

Antietam Sept. 1862- Lee leads troops to MD Victory in the North might gain European support Gain supplies for hungry army

Antietam Sharpsburg, MD McClellan’s troops spread out near Antietam Creek Sept. 17- Union attacks Confederates in 3 phases

Antietam 23,000 soldiers (both sides) dead or wounded Single bloodiest day of the Civil War Union lost more, but Lincoln moves forward with emancipation

Casualties at Antietam Union Confederate Phase of Battle Troops Involved Casualties Morning 22,400 6,550 20,800 6,050 Midday 9,700 2,900 6,500 2,600 Afternoon 13,820 2,350 6,000 1,120

Emancipation At Last Sept. 22, 1862- Emancipation Proclamation Freed all enslaved people in South after Jan. 1, 1863 Does not apply to Union controlled and border states

Reaction to Proclamation Some Northerners were excited Other felt it did not go far enough Rep.-Used in areas that US did not control Dem.- too drastic a step to take

Reaction to Proclamation Did not free a single slave The war is now about slavery Any desire to end the war dies for white southerners

African Americans Join the Fight Eager to join the Army Need for soldiers even before E.P. Lincoln repeals ban on AA soldiers Militia Act- black soldiers allowed in military

African Americans Join the Fight AA’s now actively recruited to join Army 54 Mass. Regiment- all black soldiers, white commanding officers Confederacy considered drafting blacks, did not go through with it

African Americans Join the Fight Usually assigned non-combat tasks Cooking, cleaning, digging latrines 3 year battle to win equal pay Would be killed if captured

Enslaved People Help the Union Slaves left in charge of plantations would produce food for Union Army Served as spies of scouts Demanded wages for work in some places Fled to the North/West Union camps

Homework Read Section 3- “Life During the War” on pages 373-378 Answer questions 1,4,5, and 6 on page 378

Exit Slip Do you think that Lincoln’s decision to free the slaves and use them in the war was just another way to exploit them? Why or why not?