Lindsey Graham

On July 6, 1863, America's leading abolitionist Frederick Douglass stood before a packed audience in Philadelphia's National Hall and delivered a rousing call to arms.

He declared, Once we let the black man get upon his person the brass letters, U.S., let him get an eagle on his button and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pocket, there is no power on earth which can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship. By then, America was more than two years into the Civil War.

He declared, Once we let the black man get upon his person the brass letters, U.S., let him get an eagle on his button and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pocket, there is no power on earth which can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship. By then, America was more than two years into the Civil War.

He declared, Once we let the black man get upon his person the brass letters, U.S., let him get an eagle on his button and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pocket, there is no power on earth which can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship. By then, America was more than two years into the Civil War.

President Abraham Lincoln had finally issued the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing enslaved people in the Confederate States and authorizing the enlistment of black men into the Union Army. But the idea of arming black men was controversial in both the South and the North.

President Abraham Lincoln had finally issued the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing enslaved people in the Confederate States and authorizing the enlistment of black men into the Union Army. But the idea of arming black men was controversial in both the South and the North.

President Abraham Lincoln had finally issued the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing enslaved people in the Confederate States and authorizing the enlistment of black men into the Union Army. But the idea of arming black men was controversial in both the South and the North.

Black soldiers had fought in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, but they had never served in the regular army, and they were banned from state militias. And even as Union army losses mounted, Lincoln and his advisors were reluctant to allow black men to take up arms. But as the Civil War dragged on and the death toll climbed, sentiment began to change.

Black soldiers had fought in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, but they had never served in the regular army, and they were banned from state militias. And even as Union army losses mounted, Lincoln and his advisors were reluctant to allow black men to take up arms. But as the Civil War dragged on and the death toll climbed, sentiment began to change.

Black soldiers had fought in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, but they had never served in the regular army, and they were banned from state militias. And even as Union army losses mounted, Lincoln and his advisors were reluctant to allow black men to take up arms. But as the Civil War dragged on and the death toll climbed, sentiment began to change.

Over time, President Lincoln's desire to end the conflict outweighed his fears of any public backlash. So, in the wake of the Emancipation Proclamation, thousands of Black men rushed to join the Union ranks. In total, roughly 180,000 Black men served in segregated regiments known as the United States Colored Troops, or USCT.

Over time, President Lincoln's desire to end the conflict outweighed his fears of any public backlash. So, in the wake of the Emancipation Proclamation, thousands of Black men rushed to join the Union ranks. In total, roughly 180,000 Black men served in segregated regiments known as the United States Colored Troops, or USCT.

Over time, President Lincoln's desire to end the conflict outweighed his fears of any public backlash. So, in the wake of the Emancipation Proclamation, thousands of Black men rushed to join the Union ranks. In total, roughly 180,000 Black men served in segregated regiments known as the United States Colored Troops, or USCT.

They believed, as Frederick Douglass did, that Army service would help them lay claim to full citizenship once the war was won. Over the next two years, USCT soldiers fought bravely in some of the war's most brutal battles, and 16 Black soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor for their valor in combat, the nation's highest military recognition.

They believed, as Frederick Douglass did, that Army service would help them lay claim to full citizenship once the war was won. Over the next two years, USCT soldiers fought bravely in some of the war's most brutal battles, and 16 Black soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor for their valor in combat, the nation's highest military recognition.

They believed, as Frederick Douglass did, that Army service would help them lay claim to full citizenship once the war was won. Over the next two years, USCT soldiers fought bravely in some of the war's most brutal battles, and 16 Black soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor for their valor in combat, the nation's highest military recognition.

By the war's end in April 1865, 40,000 Black men had died to save the Union, end slavery, and seek their own freedom and citizenship. But there were early signs that the path to citizenship would not be straightforward. In May 1865, nearly a quarter of a million Union soldiers paraded through Washington, D.C. in a celebratory Grand Review.

By the war's end in April 1865, 40,000 Black men had died to save the Union, end slavery, and seek their own freedom and citizenship. But there were early signs that the path to citizenship would not be straightforward. In May 1865, nearly a quarter of a million Union soldiers paraded through Washington, D.C. in a celebratory Grand Review.

By the war's end in April 1865, 40,000 Black men had died to save the Union, end slavery, and seek their own freedom and citizenship. But there were early signs that the path to citizenship would not be straightforward. In May 1865, nearly a quarter of a million Union soldiers paraded through Washington, D.C. in a celebratory Grand Review.

The victorious Union Army marched proudly from the Capitol to the White House, past thousands of cheering, flag-waving spectators. And in the days that followed, most of the soldiers would muster out of the Army and return to civilian life. But the troops who marched down Pennsylvania Avenue that day were nearly all white.