5.5 Emancipation Proclamation and African Americans in the Civil War

Emancipation Proclamation

Lincoln's Decision & Goals (1862)

• Pressure to End Slavery:
  • By 1862, Lincoln faced growing pressure to abolish slavery.
  • The Civil War became increasingly bloody.
  • The South was firm in its commitment to slavery and its political agenda.
• Turning the War into Liberation:
  • Lincoln needed to formally end slavery and transform the war into one of liberation.
  • Pressure came from military commanders, Congress, abolitionists, and slaves themselves.

Military and Political Pressure

• Military Leaders:
  • Senior military leaders publicly advocated for abolishing slavery.
  • General Benjamin Butler: Slaves reaching Union lines were considered "contraband of war" and not returned.
  • General John Fremont: Ordered immediate emancipation of slaves owned by Confederate sympathizers in Missouri.
• Lincoln's Response:
  • Lincoln viewed these actions as challenging his authority.
  • He feared alienating Union loyalists in the South.
  • He overrode the generals' orders but expanded officers' authority to provide refuge to fugitive slaves.
• Foreign Relations:
  • Many nations hoped to benefit from the split of the United States but hesitated to align with the Confederacy due to uncertain victory.
  • Lincoln believed that emancipation would transform the war into one of liberation, potentially gaining European support, as slavery had been largely abolished in Europe.

Emancipation Proclamation: Preliminary Version

• Cabinet Address (09/22/1862):
  • Lincoln announced to his cabinet that he was prepared to act on slavery.
• Terms of the Proclamation:
  • The preliminary Emancipation Proclamation declared that slaves in rebellious Southern areas would be free as of 01/01/1863.

Reactions to the Emancipation Proclamation

• Confederacy: Largely ignored the Proclamation, remaining loyal to Jefferson Davis.
• Northern Democrats:
  • Protested, arguing the act exceeded presidential powers.
• Critics' Arguments:
  • Some, like Moore, dismissed it as freeing slaves only in states outside the Union's control.
  • Warnings that the Proclamation would harm Republicans in the 1862 elections.

Lincoln's Strategic View

• Critical First Step:
  • Lincoln saw the Proclamation as an essential initial step toward complete liberation.
  • He did not expect it to immediately end the war or free all slaves.
  • The goal was to shift the war's focus from preserving the Union to liberating enslaved people.
• Impact on the War's Identity:
  • The Emancipation Proclamation aimed to redefine the war as a fight against Southern oppression and for freedom.

Political Vindication (1862 Election)

• Republican Success:
  • The Democrats did not gain control of the House, contrary to expectations after the Proclamation.
  • The Proclamation enhanced the North's moral standing both domestically and internationally.

Final Emancipation Proclamation

• Act of Justice:
  • Lincoln assured his cabinet that the final version was more than a war measure; it was a long-overdue act of justice.
• Foundation for the Thirteenth Amendment:
  • The document paved the way for the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery across the United States.

Inclusion of African Americans in the Union Army

• Welcoming African Americans:
  • The Proclamation encouraged African Americans to join the Union Army to liberate slaves in the South.
  • They could serve in the armed forces, garrison forts, and man vessels.
• Reinforcing the Union Army:
  • Lincoln believed that African Americans could significantly strengthen the Union forces.

African Americans in Combat

• Initial Uncertainty:
  • There were doubts about how effectively white and Black soldiers would serve together.
  • Even ardent abolitionists sometimes questioned the equality of African Americans.
• Test at Port Hudson (Spring 1863):
  • Port Hudson, Louisiana, was crucial for Confederate control of the Lower Mississippi.
• Union Attack:
  • Union forces aggressively attacked Confederate positions.
  • Two units composed entirely of African Americans, the first Louisiana and the third Louisiana, led the charge.
  • The first Louisiana was commanded by African American officers.
• Battle Details:
  • The battles were arduous with repeated charges under heavy artillery fire.
  • The two garrisons suffered nearly 200 casualties.
• General Banks' Reflection:
  • General Nathaniel P. Banks noted their success under severe conditions.

African American Contributions

• Numbers:
  • Over 185,000 African Americans served in the Union Army during the Civil War.
  • Another 30,000 served in the Union Navy.

Inequality and Hardships

• Lower Pay:
  • African American soldiers received significantly less pay (one-tenth) compared to their white counterparts.
• Broken Promises:
  • Many were promised land and money post-war, but these promises were rarely fulfilled.
• Segregation and Conditions:
  • Segregation in army camps and substandard living conditions were common.
• Mortality:
  • Most of the 40,000 African American deaths during the war were due to disease.
• Brutality:
  • African American troops faced extreme war brutalities, such as the massacre at Poison Spring, Arkansas (1864), where Confederate soldiers murdered nearly 100 captured Black soldiers.

Confederate Use of African Americans

• Labor Projects:
  • The Confederacy used African Americans for military labor, including railroad repairs and fort construction.
  • This freed up more white men to serve in the Confederate Army.

Recognition and Valor

• Medals of Honor:
  • Nearly 40 African Americans received American Medals of Honor for courage on the battlefield.
• Officer Roles:
  • African Americans served as officers, doctors, and chaplains, with ranks including lieutenants, captains, and majors.

Contributions of African American Women

• Harriet Tubman:
  • Famous for her work with the Underground Railroad.
  • Served as a nurse, cook, and spy during the war.
  • In 1863, she led an attack on plantations in South Carolina, freeing over 800 slaves.