America's reconstruction: People and Politics After the Civil War

Black Soldiers

Within the army, black soldiers were anything but equal to whites. Organized into segregated regiments under white officers, they initially received less pay than whites.

Nonetheless, black soldiers played a crucial role not only in winning the Civil War, but in defining the war's consequences. The army, moreover, was a major source of postwar black leadership.

Of the African-Americans who served in Congress, state legislatures, and other posts during Reconstruction, many had fought as soldiers and sailors during the war




		Black Soldiers Within the army, black soldiers were anything but equal to whites. Organized into segregated regiments under white officers, they initially received less pay than whites. Nonetheless, black soldiers played a crucial role not only in winning the Civil War, but in defining the war's consequences. The army, moreover, was a major source of postwar black leadership. Of the African-Americans who served in Congress, state legislatures, and other posts during Reconstruction, many had fought as soldiers and sailors during the war					Previous Next In his last public speech, shortly before his death in April 1865, President Lincoln endorsed the idea of limited black suffrage, singling out army veterans, along with the educated, as most worthy.
		Copyright 2003