Question

Early in the Civil War, African Americans did not fight for the Union because

A) they could not fight as well as the white troops.
B) Lincoln was afraid of antagonizing the border States.
C) of fear of riots from Irish immigrants in northern cities.
D) they were not citizens of the United States; therefore, it was unconstitutional for them to serve in the armed forces.

Answer 1

B.) Lincoln was afraid of antagonizing the border states.

He had feared that the allowance of African American enlistment would cause border states to secede from the Union. Not only that, but there was a federal law passed back in 1792 which had prohibited African Americans from bearing arms.