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Black Soldiers in the Civil War (Ms. Benjamin)

Read both pages of this Government poster for recruiting recently freed slaves for the Union Army during the Civil War. It promised freedom, protection and pay if they joined. It refers to the Emancipation Proclamation and to President Lincoln’s order to provide equal pay for black soldiers and equal protection if they were captured by the Confederacy and became prisoners of war.

Click on “+ Add Text” in the bottom left corner and label on the pages any references you find to:

Soldier pay
Treatment of prisoners of war
Discrimination during the Civil War
Government efforts to improve conditions for black soldiers

Then click “When You’re Done” to answer the conclusion questions.

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What did President Lincoln threaten to do in General Order 233 if the Confederacy treated a black prisoner of war like an escaped slave by selling or enslaving him?

Sentence Starters:

President Lincoln warned that if the Confederacy…
According to General Order 233, the Union would respond by…
Lincoln’s threat in General Order 233 shows that he…
Sentence Frames:

If the Confederacy enslaved or sold black prisoners of war, Lincoln stated that the Union would ________.
General Order 233 was issued to ensure that black soldiers were treated ________, and it threatened ________ if the Confederacy violated this.
Lincoln’s response to the mistreatment of black POWs was to ________, showing his commitment to ________.

2. Besides offering pay and protection equal to white soldiers, how did the Government try to appeal to black soldiers? What argument did they use?

Sentence Starters:

In addition to equal pay and protection, the Government tried to appeal to black soldiers by…
The argument used to encourage black enlistment was that…
The Government emphasized that black soldiers would be…
Sentence Frames:

The Government appealed to black soldiers by promising ________ and arguing that their service would ________.
One way the Union motivated black enlistment was by highlighting ________.
The argument used was that fighting for the Union would help black Americans gain ________ and prove ________.

3. How important do you think enlisting black soldiers was to the Union victory?

Sentence Starters:

Enlisting black soldiers was crucial to the Union victory because…
Without the contribution of black soldiers, the Union might have…
The importance of black soldiers in the Union army can be seen in…
Sentence Frames:

Black soldiers played a key role in the Union victory by ________.
Their enlistment helped the Union by increasing ________ and boosting ________.
The inclusion of black troops showed that the war was not only about preserving the Union but also about ________.

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