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In 1862, President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation opened the door for
African Americans to enlist in the Union Army. Although many had wanted to join the war
effort earlier, they were prohibited from enlisting by a federal law dating back to 1792.
President Lincoln had also feared that if he authorized their recruitment, border states
would secede from the Union. By the end of the war, approximately 180,000 African-American
soldiers had joined the fight.
In addition to the problems of war faced by all
soldiers, African-American soldiers faced additional difficulties created by racial prejudice.
Although many served in the infantry and artillery, discriminatory practices resulted in
large numbers of African-American soldiers being assigned to perform non-combat, support
duties as cooks, laborers, and teamsters. African-American soldiers were paid $10 per
month, from which $3 was deducted for clothing. White soldiers were paid $13 per month,
from which no clothing allowance was deducted. If captured by the Confederate Army,
African-American soldiers confronted a much greater threat than did their white
counterparts.
In spite of their many hardships, African-American soldiers
served the Union Army well and distinguished themselves in many battles. Of their service
to the nation Frederick Douglass said, "Once let
the black man get upon his person the brass letters U.S., let him get an eagle on his
button, and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pockets, and there is no power on
earth which can deny that he has earned the right of citizenship in the United States."
African-American soldiers comprised about 10 percent
of the Union Army. It is estimated that one-third of all African Americans who enlisted
lost their lives.
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