Ethnicity, Race, and the Military

Racial and ethnic groups played an important role in both armies during the Civil War. Many black soldiers fought for the North, enraging Southerners on the battlefield. Hispanic soldiers fought on both sides. American Indians acted as scouts and guides, hoping to regain land and freedom if they aided the victors.

Unfortunately, it would be decades before significant numbers of Americans recognized the considerable contributions of ethnic groups that had suffered chronic discrimination and a racial group that had been alternately enslaved, segregated, or ignored for more than 200 years.

Stories from Ethnicity, Race, and the Military

Showing results 1-5 of 14

• A Brave Black Regiment

  

  After the war, soldiers once again become private citizens. For the Union army's African American troops, they were citizens for the first time in their lives, the culmination of what, for them, the war was truly all about. Read more

• Homestead National Monument of America

  Abraham Lincoln and the West

  

  Though best known for guiding the nation through the tumultuous four years of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln also played an instrumental role in encouraging settlement and expansion of the American West. Read more

• African Americans at the Siege of Petersburg

  

  Petersburg, Virginia was a major supply hub for the Confederacy during the Civil War. Interestingly, half the population of this city, whose rail lines would prove so essential to the survival of Richmond, was comprised of both free African Americans and slaves. As the war closed in on this community, these individuals would play a critical role. Read more

• Fort Davis National Historic Site

  African Americans in the Frontier Army

  

  Following the Civil War, permanent African American regiments were constructed in the United States Army. Although segregated due to race, these regiments served with honor and distinction, and helped to tame the Wild West. Read more

• Gulf Islands National Seashore

  Exceeding Expectations

  

  During the fight for freedom, African American soldiers were forced to deal with discrimination on a regular basis. For no other reason than possessing a different skin color, these men were perceived to be inferior troops. Yet over several fierce fights, men such as the Louisiana Native Guard proved their worth. Read more

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