How Did African Americans Change Throughout The Civil War

Throughout the Civil War African Americans suffered greatly because of discrimination and because of their attempted escape from slavery. Thousands of the free blacks in the Union volunteered to serve in the Union army and to fight against the Confederacy. Although they risked their lives, they were not treated very well. At the start of the war, colored volunteers were forbidden to enter the army. Congress, however, changed that in 1862, a year into the Civil War. Even though they were allowed in the troops, they were still treated very poorly. The Union segregated African Americans into all black units that were commanded by white officers. Instead of being used on the battlefields, the black units only served as laborers. They served duties