The American Civil War was fought between the US federal government and eleven southern states that revolted to break away from the Union. When the war started, the black men offered their services without any qualms. Tragically, the black were refused enlistment on both the sides. The blacks wanted success for the Union because it meant freedom for them. In spite of the fact that blacks had helped America win independence in 1983 and aided America in every war, they were still barred from the armed force just because of the colour of the skin.

Though history states that slavery was the cause of the war, but what really pulled the plug was the barring of blacks from joining both the armies. On 31st July, 1863 Lincoln ordered all physically fit blacks to be enlisted in the Union Army. Lincoln made valiant efforts to have the blacks enlisted. However discrimination still persisted for the blacks. For instance, the blacks got inferior quality weapons, inadequate medical care and comparatively less salaries, compared to the whites. However the blacks did not give up. Besides fighting for the sake of their army, they also acted as informants who gave information about the enemy hideouts. Black men acted as cooks and tea-masters while women served as nurses. By virtue of the Thirteenth Amendment on 18th December 1865, slavery was abolished and the Black was a freeman.