Connor Richardson

25 November 2013

Segregation in the U.S. Military

History of segregation in warsRevolutionary WarThe War of 1812The Civil WarWorld War IWorld War II

Red TailsExecutive Order 9981Korean War

Overview

African Americans have fought in every war Poorly trained and equippedReturned home to worse conditions

"Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letter, 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 that can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship.“ - Frederick Douglass

Background

13 Colonies vs. the British GovernmentAfrican-Americans served

on both sides5000 black soldiers served

with whites in the Continental Army

Due to a shortage of men, General Washington lifted the ban on black enlistment in the Continental Army

Revolutionary War 1775-1783

U.S. Declared war on Great Britain: Economic blockade of France Induction of neutral American seamen into the British Royal

Navy against their will Supported Indian tribes along the Great Lakes frontier

Many African Americans fought in the U.S. military26th infantry divisionSailors in the navy

The War of 1812 1812-1814

Fought between the North and South U.S.States' rights versus federal authorityWestward expansion Slavery

Blacks assigned to non-combat roles and led by white

180,000 African Americans comprising 163 units served in the Union Army

Only two recorded units from the Confederate Army

First black received the Medal of Honor

The Civil War 1861-1865

Sgt. Major Christian Fleetwood

Still Completely segregated – yet many African Americans volunteeredMore than 350,000

served – Most were non-combat

The Great Migration500,000 African

Americans moved NorthSocial, economic, and

political challenges

World War I 1914-1918

Fought with integrated British soldiers

Contradiction of fighting against Nazi Germany with a segregated military

Experimented with integrated troops near the end of the war as a result of the Battle of the Bulge

U.S. fought for freedomsAfrican Americans faced

segregation, violence, and could not vote

World War II 1939-1945

A. Philip Randolph fought for the African Americans to become pilots

Tuskegee Institute – Flight school for African Americans

Tuskegee Experience – Army Air Corps program to become pilots and mechanics

First African American military aviators Only fighter escort to never lose a bomber to

enemy action

Tuskegee Airmen

President Truman established the Committee on Civil Rights in 1946Documented violations and racial violence

African American soldiers served in a racist environment

Urged Truman to end racismAfrican Americans would refuse to serve

26 July 1948 – President Truman signed the orderRid the military of discrimination against race,

color, religion, or national origin

Executive Order 9981

“It is hereby declared to be the policy of the President that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion or national origin. This policy shall be put into effect as rapidly as possible, having due regard to the time required to effectuate any necessary changes without impairing efficiency or morale."

Executive Order 9981

Served in all combat units100,000 on active duty at

beginningOver 600,000 served by the

endLast all-black unit was

disbandedBlacks served in command

positionsAround 5,000 died in combatMany chose to stay in the

military after the war

Korean War 1950-1953

Jesse L. Brown

Timeline

1775-1783Revolutionary War

1812-1814War of 1812

1861-1865The Civil War

1914-1918World War I

1939-1945World War II

1948Executive Order 9981

1950-1953Korean War

Civil Rights Movement

SummaryHistory of segregation in warsRevolutionary WarThe War of 1812The Civil WarWorld War IWorld War II

Red TailsExecutive Order 9981Korean War

Questions

"A Brief History." Tuskegee Airmen Inc RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. <http://tuskegeeairmen.org/explore-tai/a-brief-history/>.

"African Americans in the Korean War." NEW JERSEY KOREAN WAR VETERANS MEMORIAL. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. <http://www.nj.gov/military/korea/factsheets/afroamer.html>.

"African-American Soldiers in the Civil War." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. <http://www.history.com/topics/african-american-soldiers-in-the-civil-war>.

"American Revolution." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. <http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution>.

McGrath, Jane. "Why Was Executive Order No. 9981 so Important?" HowStuffWorks. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. <http://history.howstuffworks.com/history-vs-myth/executive-order-99812.htm>.

Vox, Lisa. "Executive Order 9981." About.com African-American History. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. <http://afroamhistory.about.com/od/civilrightsstruggle1/a/order9981.htm>.

Weidman, Budge. "Teaching With Documents:The Fight for Equal Rights: Black Soldiers in the Civil War." Black Soldiers in the Civil War. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. <http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/blacks-civil-war/>.

Williams, Chad. "African Americans and World War I." African Americans and World War I. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. <http://exhibitions.nypl.org/africanaage/essay-world-war-i.html>.

"World War I." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. <http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i>.

Works Cited