U.S. War Department General Order 143 Establishing the Bureau of U.S. Colored Troops

Questions for Further Study

• 1. Explore how War Department General Order 143 fit into the struggle of African Americans to gain full citizenship and civil rights in the United States. What rights, if any, do you believe African Americans gained from serving in the U.S. Army during the Civil War?
• 2. General Order 143 was issued several months after the Emancipation Proclamation. Explore the connection between these two documents. How did freeing slaves in the Confederate areas under rebellion tie to the recruitment of African American troops for the Union army?
• 3. African American troops complained about getting less pay than white soldiers until Congress granted pay equity in June 1864. What arguments were used to justify paying African Americans less? What arguments were used to support equal pay? Can you think of examples in today’s society when certain groups or classes of people receive unequal compensation for equal work?