Militia Act Militia Act: mandated that black soldiers be accepted into the military.

54 th Massachusetts Regiment: Abolitionist governor of Massachusetts support the formation of this regiment. Abolitionist governor of Massachusetts support the formation of this regiment. By the Civil War’s end more than 180,000 African American volunteers had served in the Union army By the Civil War’s end more than 180,000 African American volunteers had served in the Union army

African American Soldiers Fight Bravely: Racist attitudes left whites with low expectations of black troops; Racist attitudes left whites with low expectations of black troops; However, the African Americans performance of the battle field proved the whites’ racists attitudes false! However, the African Americans performance of the battle field proved the whites’ racists attitudes false!

African American Soldiers Fight Bravely: After the battle in Port Hudson, Mississippi – the first major test for African American soldiers, a Union officer declared, “my prejudices with regard to negro troops have been dispelled by the battle…The brigade of negroes behaved magnificently.” African American Soldiers Fight Bravely: After the battle in Port Hudson, Mississippi – the first major test for African American soldiers, a Union officer declared, “my prejudices with regard to negro troops have been dispelled by the battle…The brigade of negroes behaved magnificently.”

African American Soldiers Fight Bravely: African Americans still faced prejudice: African Americans still faced prejudice: Assigned menial tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, or digging latrines; served longest guard duty and were placed in exposed battle positions; took 3 years effort to get equal pay Assigned menial tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, or digging latrines; served longest guard duty and were placed in exposed battle positions; took 3 years effort to get equal pay

Enslaved People Help the Union Cause: Enslaved People Help the Union Cause: Enslaved Africans in the South played an important role in the war: Enslaved Africans in the South played an important role in the war: White owners often abandoned plantations for the safety of southern cities, leaving trusted slaves to manage the farm. White owners often abandoned plantations for the safety of southern cities, leaving trusted slaves to manage the farm. Union troops often enlisted these African Americans. Union troops often enlisted these African Americans.

Enslaved People Help the Union Cause: Helped supply troops with food; Helped supply troops with food; Used their familiarity with the terrain to serve as spies or scouts for the Union army; Used their familiarity with the terrain to serve as spies or scouts for the Union army; Some organized their own militia units. Some organized their own militia units.