United States Colored Troops

United States Colored Troops or U.S.C.T soldiers played a significant role in securing victory for the Union during the Civil War. In this lesson, students will explore what motivated men to volunteer for duty in the U.S.C.T, and the particular risks they faced.

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Standards & Objectives

Learning objectives:

In the course of the lesson, students will:

identify African American involvement in the Union army
analyze documents and images
draw inferences about the motivations of African American soldiers
draw inferences about the risks that African American soldiers faced
write an opinion piece that demonstrates knowledge of motivations and risks of African American soldiers in the Civil War

Essential and guiding questions:

What motivated men to volunteer for service in the United States Colored Troops?
What risks did theyface?
How did the experiences of African American soldiers differ from those of white Union soldiers?

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level:

Applying

Extension suggestions:

Require students to cite evidence from specific sources in their opinion piece.
Give students the option of creating a poster encouraging OR discouraging men from joining the U.S.C.T.
Have students find additional primary sources that support predictions from their graphic organizer not covered by the sources in the lesson.

Helpful Hints

Materials Needed:

Copies of the graphic organizer
Copies of, or computer access to, the following primary sources:
The Fort Pillow Massacre
Appointment of George Singleton as sergeant in USCI regiment
Certificate of enlistment for Dennis Morgan into the United States Colored Troops
Letter from Decatur G. Chapin, a white officer of the 55th United States Colored Troops (to his brother)
Transcribed Excerpt of Letter from Decatur G. Chapin, a white officer of the 55th United States Colored Troops (to his brother) see attached document
Letter from Decatur G. Chapin, a white officer of the 55th United States Colored Troops (to his father)
Transcribed Excerpt of Letter from Decatur G. Chapin, a white officer of the 55th United States Colored Troops (to his father) see attached document
“To Colored Men” Recruitment Poster
“Mother of a Northern Black Soldier to the President”