Final answer:
The Emancipation Proclamation allowed African American men to be enlisted as Union soldiers, impacting the Militia Act and the composition of the Union's armed forces.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Emancipation Proclamation, issued in January 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln, had a significant impact on the Militia Act and the composition of the Union's armed forces during the American Civil War. Prior to the Emancipation Proclamation, the Second Confiscation and Militia Act of July 17, 1862 had already authorized the inclusion of African Americans in federal military service. However, it wasn't until the Emancipation Proclamation that President Lincoln fully utilized this authority.
After the Emancipation Proclamation, African American men were officially enlisted as Union soldiers. This led to a significant increase in the number of formerly enslaved as well as free Black people enlisting in the army, with their numbers reaching over 190,000 by the end of the war. However, racism and discrimination persisted within the Union army, resulting in Black soldiers being assigned to non-combat roles such as hauling supplies, serving as cooks, and digging trenches, instead of being allowed to serve on the battlefield.