In order to preserve the South’s top economic industry, agriculture, slavery was essential. Up until the Civil War, slaves were considered one’s property, but Major General Ben Butler poses the question “what has been the effect of rebellion and a state of war on their [African-American’s] status” (Source A). Initially, Abraham Lincoln credits preserving the Union the sole reason of Civil War, but once the question of the status of fugitive slaves is asked, it soon becomes the focal point of the war. Lincoln realizes that if slaves are considered contraband, it will help him achieve his goal of coalescing the North and the South. Lincoln himself acknowledges this as he says “they [African-Americans] must be prompted by the strongest motive-even the promise of freedom” (Source C). As the Union recognized the advantage of having slaves help fight for their cause, the course of the war …show more content…
Previously, all over the country, African-American’s were identified as an inferior race, but now seen by the Union as men who “now march in solid platoons” (Source F). In the North, the Revolution was viewed as a success by lessening racial tension. Soon, the Republican-Party-promised amendments ensuring equal rights to every man “without regard to the color of his skin” was achieved (Source H). By African-Americans finally being given basic democratic rights such as voting and citizenship, the “right of suffrage” was given to a new group of