In the United States during the 1800s, many conflicts regarding slavery were still present and were continuously increasing political, social, and economic disputes. However, once Abraham Lincoln was elected President on November 6, 1860 and declared "I think slavery is wrong, morally, and politically. I desire that it should be no further spread in these United States, and I should not object if it should gradually terminate in the whole Union" (440), thus the predicament of slavery became inevitably acknowledged by all citizens of the United States. This awareness caused social divisions between the North and South consequently causing the Southern states to begin seceding on December 20, 1860. These disagreements amongst the Union and Confederate
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However, in the middle of the war, 1863, the Confederate states were in dire need of soldiers, thus a legislation was passed on March 13, 1865 allowing any enslaved African American who enlisted in the Confederate Army to obtain their freedom with consent from their owner. Thus, slaves could be referred to as an asset for Southern war effort because many fought voluntary and forcefully, helped build fortifications, and execute camp duties for the Confederate Army. Many slave owners brought along their slaves in order to have duties completed for them, some slaves even took their owner 's position on the frontline. On the other hand, slaves were primarily considered a liability for the Southern states because the Union Army utilized African American espionage for intelligence of the Confederate states. Confederate Generals officers often neglected the presence of African Americans and would discuss military plans, forces, and procedures. These black dispatches were an immense asset to the Union Army and Herbert Aptheker declared “The greatest source of military and naval intelligence, particularly on the tactical level, for the Federal government during the war was the Negro." Slaves did impact the Southern war effort positively, however due to Southern 's negligence the slaves provided the Union Army with intelligence resulting in slaves becoming a liability for the Southern war
However, in the middle of the war, 1863, the Confederate states were in dire need of soldiers, thus a legislation was passed on March 13, 1865 allowing any enslaved African American who enlisted in the Confederate Army to obtain their freedom with consent from their owner. Thus, slaves could be referred to as an asset for Southern war effort because many fought voluntary and forcefully, helped build fortifications, and execute camp duties for the Confederate Army. Many slave owners brought along their slaves in order to have duties completed for them, some slaves even took their owner 's position on the frontline. On the other hand, slaves were primarily considered a liability for the Southern states because the Union Army utilized African American espionage for intelligence of the Confederate states. Confederate Generals officers often neglected the presence of African Americans and would discuss military plans, forces, and procedures. These black dispatches were an immense asset to the Union Army and Herbert Aptheker declared “The greatest source of military and naval intelligence, particularly on the tactical level, for the Federal government during the war was the Negro." Slaves did impact the Southern war effort positively, however due to Southern 's negligence the slaves provided the Union Army with intelligence resulting in slaves becoming a liability for the Southern war