Social effects of 1864 essays

Social effects of 1864 essays President Lincoln has made a grave effort to emancipate the slaves and along with that, he has taken steps to enlist blacks in the armed forces. Although African-Americans served in the War of 1812 and the Revolution, the War Department was refusing to accept free Northern blacks who tried to volunteer. As the war continues to progress, emancipation has been proclaimed and manpower has run low. Black enlistees in the North are now accepted, sometimes with protest from whites from the North and the South. At the rate black enlistees are growing, it is estimated that they will make up about 10 percent of the total enlistees in the Union forces. Due to arrogance, discrimination, and most importantly-principle, the Confederate south has not yet been able to bring itself to enlist slaves. Instead, thousands are forced into labor regiments, forts, and the supplying of armies. Basically, slaves are kept busy with war-connected activities. They are the backbone of the Confederacy-as white men fight, blacks maintain the farms. It is surprising to say that the great majority of Southern slaves have done little to help Northern liberators. Had the south accepted blacks into the military, the Confederacy could bring its soldiers home and the war would have ended. As blacks in the south learned of Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation, they did not cast off their chains. Whether it was because of fear, loyalty, or simply, lack of leadership, blacks did not revolt. But, upon the approach of Union armies, thousands revolted when they abandoned their plantations. They may have not feared their owners as they saw the Union armies. The arrival of the armies may have given blacks a feeling of hope and liberation-a feeling that they are and have every right to be free. ...