The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the topic of American history. Specifically it will compare and contrast African American soldiers from the North and the South during the Civil War. African American soldiers did not make up a majority of troops during the Civil War. In fact, many Southern states would not allow black soldiers to organize and fight. However, several black regiments were formed on both sides, and did see quite a bit of action during the war. African American soldiers played an important part in the Civil War, and just as their brothers and sisters who toiled in bondage, their commanding officers and their leaders did not always treat them equally with their white counterparts.

             It was not until 1862 that African American soldiers could enlist in the Civil War. In 1862, President Lincoln created the Emancipation Proclamation, which called for black freedom from slavery once the war was over, and allowed blacks to enlist in the Northern Army. The Proclamation overruled a previous law from 1792 that kept blacks from enlisting. However, by the end of the Civil War, black soldiers filled the ranks on both sides. Historian Howard C. Westwood notes, "Black soldiers reversed potential manpower resources of the Confederacy and furnished approximately 10 percent of the army that won the war" (Westwood viii). Interestingly, while the United States Army did not accept black soldiers until 1862, the U.S. Navy had always contained black soldiers, and so, the tradition of black fighting men was not as unusual as many might think (Westwood 1). In fact, blacks also served as laborers and other service personnel in both the Army and Navy even before 1862. .

             However, by 1862, many things had changed in the Union. The Civil War was dragging on longer than many had thought it would. In addition, with Union victories in the South, many black slaves had been liberated, and there was growing interest in allowing these slaves to serve their Union liberators by fighting in the War.