CIVIL WAR PROJECT Marie Gibbons Lesson Three: Understanding ...

CIVIL WAR PROJECT
Marie Gibbons
Lesson Three: Understanding the Level of Sacrifice of African Americans in the
Military, Particularly the Massachusetts 54 th , During the Civil War.
This lesson will make use of primary sources from the Massachusetts Archives,
the Massachusetts Historical Society, the National Archives, and a transcript of a letter
sent to the editor of the Boston Journal from a member of the Massachusetts 54 th from
Morris Island, S.C. A book written by a member of the Massachusetts 54 th will also be
utilized in this lesson. These sources will be used as a basis for discussing what, and how
strong, our beliefs and values are, and what we would be willing to sacrifice to promote
and preserve them. Issues such as the professions of the members of the 54 th prior to
enlistment, pay equal to that of white soldiers, safety issues while in Confederate
territory, and others, will be explored using primary sources.
Lesson Three
Goal: To understand the level of sacrifice of African Americans in the military
(particularly the Massachusetts 54 th Regiment) during the Civil War.
History and Social Science Learning Standards Addressed:
Standard One: Chronology and Cause
Standard Two: Historical Understanding
Standard Three: Research, Evidence, and Point of View
Standard Four: Society, Diversity, Commonality, and the Individual
Standard Five: Interdisciplinary Learning: Religion, Ethics, Philosophy and Literature
Standard Sixteen: Authority, Responsibility and Power
Objectives:
• Students will examine the occupations/trades of the members of the
Massachusetts 54 th in the context of economic barriers.
• Students will recognize the level of personal sacrifice Frederick Douglas was
willing to make.
• Students will appreciate the economic hardships African American troops and
their families were willing to endure as a result of their refusal to accept pay
unequal to that of their white counterparts.
• Students will realize the enormous casualties sustained by the Massachusetts 54 th
Regiment at Fort Wagner.
• Students will evaluate the level of danger the Massachusetts 54 th and other
African American regiments placed themselves in when fighting in Confederate
territory, beyond the obvious danger of battle.
• Students will understand William Carney’s courage in preserving and protecting
the flag.

Preparation
Prior to students working with primary source documents students will:
• be made familiar with the social, economic, and political barriers experienced by
African Americans in the North.
• view the video Civil War Journal-The 54 th Massachusetts. This video gives a
history of the 54 th that includes many primary sources.
• examine their own values and beliefs and how much they, or their parents, would
be willing to sacrifice to uphold and safeguard them. Questions that could be
used to help with this examination.
• “What is important to you?”
• “What is important to your parents?’
• “Would you be willing to give up a job that insured your family's financial
security?”
• “Would you be willing to put yourself in danger for an idea or ideal?”
• “Do you think your parents would encourage you to fight for a cause?”
• “How much of a guarantee would you need that your goals would be met
before you put yourself in danger?”
Materials
*Magnifying glasses (to assist in reading of copies of original documents)
*Primary sources:
• roster of Massachusetts 54 th Infantry (found in A Brave Black Regiment-see
bibliography)
• enlistment papers of the sons of Frederick Douglas
• casualty list of the Massachusetts 54 th following the battle at Fort Wagner
• Broadside containing General Order 233 (dealing with protection of African
American troops)
• letter from Confederate colonel (stating Confederate policies toward African
American POWs)
• letter from Union general reiterating the U.S. government’s obligations to African
Americans captured by Confederates
• transcript of a letter to the editor of the Boston Journal from a member of the
Massachusetts 54th
• charges against African American soldier for refusal to accept unequal pay
(Private Ray)
• detachment muster roll of Private Ray’s pay due as a result of the pay
discrepancies between African American and white soldiers
• William Carney’s entries in the Company Description Book of the Massachusetts
54 th
• William Carney’s Medal of Honor notation in the records of the Record and
Pension Office
Time Frame
5 to 7 (40 minute) class periods will be used.

Procedure
Students will be placed in cooperative groups made up of 4-5 students.
Each group will analyze an identical set of documents and manuscripts.
Students will use the 5 W’s to analyze documents (WHO? WHAT? WHERE?
WHEN? WHY?).
They will be instructed to ask, but not limit themselves to the following:
Who created the document? Who is it aimed at?
What issues does the document address?
Where did the document originate? Where was its final destination?
When was the document created? If there is more than one document
dealing with the same subject, when was the first document created? The
last?
Why was the document created?
Evaluation
Acting as a member of the Massachusetts 54 th , each group will use their
information to create a journal tracing major events in the history of the regiment.
or
Groups will role play, assuming the identities of the subjects of the analyzed
documents.

Bibliography
Baker, C. F., Waryncia, L., Silvestro, P., & Dillon, A. (Eds. ). (1999,
January/February). 54 th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Footsteps. New Hampshire:
Cobblestone Publishing Co..
Berlin, I., Reidy, J.P., & Roland, L.S. (Eds. ). (1998). Freedom’s Soldiers: The
Black Military Experience in the Civil War. Cambridge: Cambridge Press.
Press.
Emilio, L.F. (1995). A Brave Black Regiment. New York: Da Capo Press.
Massachusetts Historical Society. (2001). We Fight for Freedom.
O’Connor, T.H. (1997). Civil War Boston. Boston: Northeastern University Press.
McPherson, J.M. (1988). Battle Cry of Freedom. New York: Oxford University
Ripley, C.P., Finkenbine, R.E., Hembree, M.F., &Yacovone, D. (Eds.) (1993).
Witness for Freedom. North Carolina: University of North Carolina Press.
Video
The 54 th Massachusetts. Civil War Journal. (1995). New York: Arts and
Entertainment Home Video.
Web Site
www.nara.gov/education/teaching