Question

chapter 11 section 2 section summary african americans and the war with the slavery debate ongoing, union officers had to decide what to do with enslaved africans they captured under their control. one general declared them to be contraband, or captured war supplies. another declared the slaves free, but lincoln reversed that order, fearing resistance from the border states. union officials secretly began working on a plan for the emancipation of enslaved african americans living in confederate states. confederate general lee attempted to lead a pro - confederate uprising in maryland. on september 8, lee issued the \proclamation to the people of maryland,\ which invited them to ally themselves with the south. marylanders responded to the invitation with little enthusiasm, and lees proclamation failed. union and confederate troops met at sharpsburg, maryland on september 17 to fight the battle of antietam. it became the bloodiest day of the war with more than 23,000 soldiers dead or wounded. on september 22, 1862, following the battle of antietam, lincoln formally issued the emancipation proclamation. it stated that, as of january 1, 1863, all slaves in states in rebellion against the united states would be forever free. his decree did not apply to loyal border states. although the emancipation proclamation did not actually free a single slave, it was an important turning point in the war. for northerners, it redefined the war as being \about slavery.\ for southerners, the call to free the slaves prevented any chance for a negotiated end to the war. at the start of the war, many african americans in the north were eager to fight but had been turned down. in the summer of 1862, congress passed the militia act, mandating that black soldiers be accepted into the military. after the emancipation proclamation, the union began to actively recruit black troops. the governor of massachusetts supported the formation of the all - black 54th massachusetts regiment. although african american troops distinguished themselves on the battlefield...
chapter 11, section 2 assessment questions - african americans and the war

1. what is controversy?
2. what was the proclamation to the people of maryland?
3. which battle became the bloodiest day of the civil war?
4. what were the terms of the emancipation proclamation?
5. how did african americans contribute to the war effort?
6. what was the militia act?

Explanation:

1. Defined as enslaved African Americans seized/captured by Union forces during the Civil War, per the text.
2. A pro-Confederate message by Robert E. Lee that invited Marylanders to ally with the South, which received little enthusiasm.
3. Identified in the text as the Battle of Antietam, fought September 17, 1862, with over 23,000 casualties.
4. Stated that as of January 1, 1863, all enslaved people in states rebelling against the U.S. would be forever free; it did not apply to loyal border states.
5. After being allowed to enlist (post-Militia Act and Emancipation Proclamation), they served as soldiers in the Union military, with units like the 54th Massachusetts Regiment distinguishing themselves in battle.
6. A law passed by Congress in summer 1862 that mandated Black soldiers be accepted into the Union military.

Answer:

1. Contraband were enslaved African Americans who came under Union control (seized, captured, or escaped to Union lines) during the Civil War.
2. The "Proclamation to the People of Maryland" was a pro-Confederate statement by General Lee that invited Marylanders to ally with the South; it received little enthusiasm.
3. The Battle of Antietam (fought September 17, 1862) became the bloodiest day of the Civil War, with over 23,000 soldiers dead or wounded.
4. The Emancipation Proclamation stated that as of January 1, 1863, all enslaved people in states in rebellion against the United States would be forever free. It did not apply to enslaved people in loyal border states.
5. After being permitted to enlist, African Americans served as soldiers in the Union military, forming regiments like the 54th Massachusetts Regiment and distinguishing themselves in battle.
6. The Militia Act was an 1862 law passed by Congress that mandated Black soldiers be accepted into the Union military.