This Assignment Is Due On Saturday, Dec 2, 2017 At 6:00 PM

This assignment is due on Saturday, Dec 2, 2017 at 1800. Please read and answer the discussion questions carefully in APA format written in Times New Roman and 12 Point Font Size, 400 total word count with a minimum of 2 references.

This assignment is due on Saturday, Dec 2, 2017 at 1800. Please read and answer the discussion questions carefully in APA format written in Times New Roman and 12 Point Font Size, 400 total word count with a minimum of 2 references.

Paper For Above instruction

The American Civil War, spanning from 1861 to 1865, was a defining moment in United States history, significantly influenced by the participation of Black Americans. Their roles in the war varied notably between the Northern states (Union) and Southern states (Confederacy), shaped by differing social, political, and military contexts. This essay explores these differences and examines the various political factions during Reconstruction under Lincoln, Johnson, and the Radical Republicans, along with the Southern response to their policies.

Black Americans in the Civil War played a pivotal role in the Union's victory. Initially, enslaved African Americans sought emancipation by escaping to Union lines, with some joining the Union Army after the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 (Foner, 2010). The recruitment of Black soldiers became a significant part of the Union war effort, with approximately 180,000 African Americans enlisting by the war’s end (McPherson, 1988). Their participation not only bolstered Union forces but also challenged prevailing racial prejudices by demonstrating their capability and desire for freedom.

In contrast, in the Confederacy, enslaved Blacks had little opportunity for military engagement, as their primary role was as laborers and supporters of the Southern war economy. However, with the Union’s advances and the threat of emancipation, some enslaved individuals in the South fled or resisted, contributing indirectly to the Union war effort. The Confederacy maintained a strict racial hierarchy, opposing arming Black soldiers, believing that their social order depended on slavery (Davis, 1998). This fundamental difference — militarized participation in the North versus limited roles in the South — reflected broader societal divisions and racial ideologies.

During Reconstruction, a series of competing factions emerged. Lincoln initially favored a lenient approach, aiming to restore the Union swiftly and offering pardons to most Confederates. His plan, the Ten Percent Plan, envisioned reuniting the nation once 10% of voters in Southern states swore allegiance (Guelzo, 2012). After Lincoln’s assassination, Vice President Andrew Johnson adopted a similar approach but was more lenient toward former Confederates, often opposing Radical Republicans’ efforts to protect Black rights and impose stricter Reconstruction policies (Stampp, 1950).

Radical Republicans sought to transform Southern society by enforcing civil rights for freedmen, implementing military Reconstruction, and ensuring the right to vote for Black men. They faced Southern resistance characterized by violence, Black Codes, and efforts to suppress Black political participation (Foner, 1988). The South reacted vehemently against these reforms, leading to widespread violence and the rise of groups like the Ku Klux Klan, who aimed to restore White supremacy.

In conclusion, Black Americans played a crucial yet varied role in the Civil War, with their military participation in the North differing significantly from limited roles in the South. The complex political landscape during Reconstruction was marked by contrasting visions of reconstruction, each with profound implications for racial equality and regional reconciliation. Understanding these dynamics highlights the enduring struggles for civil rights and national unity.

References

Davis, R. (1998). The Cause Lost: Myths and Realities of the Civil War. Cornell University Press.

Foner, E. (1988). Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution, 1863-1877. Harper & Row.

Foner, E. (2010). The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery. W. W. Norton & Company.

Guelzo, A. J. (2012). Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation: The End of Slavery in America. Simon & Schuster.

McPherson, J. M. (1988). Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. Oxford University Press.

Stampp, K. M. (1950). And the War Came: The North and the South, 1830-1861. Oxford University Press.