Final answer:
White people in the Civil War era predominantly did not support Black enlistment due to beliefs in White supremacy, fears that it would invalidate pro-slavery ideology, and racial tensions that influenced military policies. Despite opposition, over 190,000 African American men served in the Union forces, although they were often relegated to subordinate roles and faced widespread discrimination.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reasons why White people did not support Black people enlisting to fight in the Civil War are deeply rooted in the societal norms and racial attitudes of the time. Notably, a significant reason was the widespread belief in White supremacy and racial discrimination, which made the idea of African Americans serving as soldiers alongside White troops unthinkable to many. Additionally, White Confederate citizens feared that if slaves or free Black individuals made effective soldiers, their entire justification for the institution of slavery could collapse, as expressed by Howell Cobb's famous quote: "If slaves make good soldiers our whole theory of slavery is wrong." This sentiment was echoed across the Confederacy and the Union, where racial tensions and concerns about the reaction of Border States also led to resistance against Black enlistment. Despite the reluctance, by the end of the war, over 190,000 African American men had joined the Union forces, though many faced discrimination and were often restricted to labor rather