1. Why were African American soldiers not given the right to fight immediately upon their enlistment into the Union army? Why were they only allowed to do manual labor?

ANSWER:
According to the text, the War Department questioned their ability to fight effectively as soldiers and white leaders were fearful of the reaction of white soldiers. So, black men were employed as manual laborers and their wives were hired to serve as laundresses or cooks. Ironically, the navy took them in to service right away.

2. Even when given the right to enlist, why did some African Americans choose not to enlist?

ANSWER:
The Militia Act of 1862 offered blacks the legal right to enlist in the army or naval services, but the problem was that the pay was so low, much lower than whites, and working black men did not want to leave their family destitute. This was a challenging dilemma for many blacks in the US, because these northern white men were dying to emancipate them from the bondage of slavery and they figured the least they could do was to serve alongside them.

3. What were the Pros and Cons of the recruitment of black soldiers in the Union?

ANSWER:
The challenges associated with blacks joining the ranks of the army or navy were many and at times, quite severe. They were often treated as inferior and punished severely for any insubordination, real or perceived. This, accompanied by the reduced pay scale, as compared to white soldiers, led them to reconsider their options. However, the benefits by far outweighed the challenges… Black soldiers were elevated in status, even though they were still considered second-class citizens. They were taught to read, write, and lead others, having a renewed confidence and strength, due to having earned full citizenship for themselves, their families, and all blacks residing in the US. Black Americans now had a sense of pride in what they had achieved for themselves and their nation. They continued to serve beyond the Civil War and into the Reconstruction Era, where they also functioned in elective office and as schoolteachers, among a multitude of other vital and influential professions.

4. What was the significance of the 54th Massachusetts Colored Regiment? How did the Union allowing African American's in to the army change the lives of those who participated and their families? Was it positive or negative and why.

ANSWER:
They were vital to the cause of establishing liberty for all in America and without their help, in the fight and behind the scenes, there is a strong likelihood that the North would not have prevailed, as they did… Many black soldiers claimed to have felt freedom in their bones as they were transformed from slave to freeman to soldier virtually overnight. Although this was the case, the black soldiers experience in the Union army was problematic, at best. Initially, they were required to work in supportive roles and were often treated worse here than when they were in slavery. Despite such harsh conditions, the motivation to fight for the experience and preservation of their freedom is what propelled them remain involved and proactively engaged.