Question

Is this statement true or false? Northerners refused to allow blacks to join the army at the start of the war because they believed they could not fight.

Answer 1

True. Although many abolitionists believed in the fundamental concept that African Americans should be granted immunities from the institution of slavery, they were not necessary equal to their white counterparts. Likewise, the beginning of the war was an attempt to repress the South from seceding from the Union rather ending the institution of slavery. However, as President Lincoln was initially losing the war, he realized that turning all efforts to prevent slavery would rally the Union army for a greater cause, which eventually established segregated, all-black units in the North.

Answer 2

True.

While many Northerners did not like slavery, many still held the belief that were not exactly on the same level as Northern whites, and should be treated as such. This led to many African Americans who join the Union army to only work for officers, or stay as cooks, cleaning service, and later on, privates and lower class petty officers.

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