Which statement best describes black soldiers' participation in the civil war? a) black soldiers were only allowed to cook, clean and perform hard labor. b) black soldiers were active in some capacity soon after the start of the war. c) black soldiers rarely saw action, and only then in the latter stages of the war. d) they were allowed to fight, but only in battles taking place outside of the confederacy.

Which statement BEST describes black soldiers' participation in the Civil War?  

The correct answer is B) Black soldiers were active in some capacity soon after the start of the war.

On July 17, 1862, a year after the American Civil War had started, the congress freed slaves who had masters in the Confederate Army and two days later in all territories of the United States, giving the opportunity to black American to enlist. Despite this, recruitment was not at as fast as expected so Frederick Douglass, a black leader, inspired black men to enlist. For this effort, in May 1863, the government created a Bureau of Black Troops to manage the enlisting of black troops.