According to War Department General Order 143, approximately how many Black men served in the U.S. Army by the end of the Civil War?

According to War Department General Order 143, approximately how many Black men served in the U.S. Army by the end of the Civil War?

• A. 179,000
• B. 50,000
• C. 1,000,000
• D. 19,000

Answer: (A)

The main idea being tested is how policies opened the door for Black men to serve in the Union Army and what that actually looked like in numbers. War Department General Order 143 authorized recruitment of Black soldiers and led to the creation of units known as the United States Colored Troops. This change dramatically expanded the Union’s manpower and allowed Black men to contribute significantly to the war effort. By the end of the Civil War, approximately 179,000 Black men served in the U.S. Army. That figure shows the real impact of the policy shift—a substantial enlistment that helped sustain Union forces across multiple campaigns. The other numbers don’t fit the Army’s record for Black enlistment during the Civil War, because they are either far too small or far too large to match historical totals for Black soldiers in the Army. (The Navy had its own numbers, but this question is specifically about the Army.)

The main idea being tested is how policies opened the door for Black men to serve in the Union Army and what that actually looked like in numbers. War Department General Order 143 authorized recruitment of Black soldiers and led to the creation of units known as the United States Colored Troops. This change dramatically expanded the Union’s manpower and allowed Black men to contribute significantly to the war effort.

By the end of the Civil War, approximately 179,000 Black men served in the U.S. Army. That figure shows the real impact of the policy shift—a substantial enlistment that helped sustain Union forces across multiple campaigns. The other numbers don’t fit the Army’s record for Black enlistment during the Civil War, because they are either far too small or far too large to match historical totals for Black soldiers in the Army. (The Navy had its own numbers, but this question is specifically about the Army.)