Jake’s Reviews > What This Cruel War Was Over: Soldiers, Slavery, and the Civil War > Status Update

Confederates now had to face reality that they needed slaves to enlist. This angered nonslaveholding whites, for it out blacks and whites in equal footing. It threatened the racial hierarchy that they were fighting for. If they were to enlist, the war was already over, according to some troops. The bill passed, but a few weeks later, the Confederacy would fall before slave enlistment was in full force.

Union victory is near. 13th Amendment was passed and they took Atlanta which indicated the end was near. Blacks realized that abolition ≠equality and that would be a long process. Confederate morale was low as a result of these things, along with Lincoln’s reelection. Many confederate troops were ready to stop fighting. However, they still cared a lot about their land and their families, worried about the future.

Conf were upset their wives and families weren’t treated well at home.They were motivated in self-interest and to protect their families not to uphold principles of a nation. They feared most the upheaval of racial order where blacks had equality and could hold power over them.This would prove to be the last motivation confederates had to fight. Anything would be better than living in a country with racial equality

progress was made in 1863, but 1864 brought loss for the Union. This resulted in a regression of progressive racial attitudes. Whites started to blame blacks for losing and their prejudice against blacks was still strong. Slavery was still the main issue, but calls for equality waned. Blacks became upset as well for Union policies for equal pay and treatment were undermining their calls for an equal society postwar

Many confederate troops did not like the confederate government. Morale was low after July 4th, but they also used God to motivate them. They believed that individual sins were punishing troops, not the institution of slavery. They feared a society with equality, for it threatened their social order of white male dominance over women and slaves.

July 4 1863 was a big day for the Union. They believed God played a role in their massive victories. Eliminating slavery would repent for Americas sins. They believed that full equality was needed to repent for Americas sins. Black soldiers also helped dispel racial prejudice by serving bravely. They saw the war as a blessing. These attitudes would never have been present before the war for white soldiers.

Conf soldiers were negative about the war but the Emancipation Proclamation rejuvenated them. blacks being free citizens was a financial loss & it threatened the social fabric of Confederate life. Poor whites feared equality cuz they believed blacks were dangerous & threatened their wives and family. They protected the confederacy, even though it did not support them & rich slaveholders were the only ones to benefit

Some union soldiers disproved of emancipation, but many approved. Some because it upheld American virtues, but most because it would help end the war. They believed it would hurt confederate labor or that blacks were so inferior that they weren’t a threat if free. The EP helped boost black enlistment as well

Union soldiers began to realize that the war wasn’t just about ending slavery, but it needed to ensure freedom for blacks after the war as well. The Emancipation Proclamation helped support this idea and contrary to common belief, many Union soldiers were not ardently opposed to it. Many actually supported it. Lincoln came to see it this way as well. “A house divided cannot stand.”Either all slave or no slave.

The Union’s will to fight was stronger because they beleved they were fighting for liberty and for the republic that was to serve generations to come, whereas confederates were fighting in the name of self-interest. Union soldiers supported emancipation because they knew that was the cause of the war. They also witnessed the maltreatment first hand. However, they still held racist attitudes and kept race separate.