Question

The first African Americans who fought for the Union during the Civil War

Answer 1

In 1862, President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation opened the door for African Americans to enlist in the Union Army. Although many had wanted to join the war effort earlier, they were prohibited from enlisting by a federal law dating back to 1792. President Lincoln had also feared that if he authorized their recruitment, border states would secede from the Union. By the end of the war, approximately 180,000 African-American soldiers had joined the fight.

Answer 2

Correct answer: Were paid less than white soldiers.

Details:

According to a National Archives article on "Black Soldiers in the U.S. Military during the Civil War" -

• In addition to the perils of war faced by all Civil War soldiers, black soldiers faced additional problems stemming from racial prejudice. Racial discrimination was prevalent even in the North, and discriminatory practices permeated the U.S. military. Segregated units were formed with black enlisted men and typically commanded by white officers and black noncommissioned officers. ... Black soldiers were initially paid $10 per month from which $3 was automatically deducted for clothing, resulting in a net pay of $7. In contrast, white soldiers received $13 per month from which no clothing allowance was drawn.

In 1864, however, the US Congress corrected the problem of unequal pay, and made the measure they passed retroactive, so that black soldiers would receive retroactive wages to compensate for that previous inequality.