* Civil War: The Union Army began enlisting African American soldiers in 1863, following the Emancipation Proclamation. By the end of the war, over 180,000 African Americans had served in the Union Army and Navy.
* Spanish-American War: African American soldiers again played a significant role in the Spanish-American War of 1898. Over 20,000 African Americans served in the U.S. military during this war, and they distinguished themselves in combat.
* World War I: Over 350,000 African Americans served in the U.S. military during World War I. They fought in both the European and Pacific theaters of the war, and they again proved their courage and dedication.
* World War II: Over 1 million African Americans served in the U.S. military during World War II. They fought in every major theater of the war, and they made significant contributions to the Allied victory.
Women
* Spanish-American War: The Spanish-American War of 1898 was the first war in which women served in the U.S. military in a non-nursing capacity. Over 200 women served in the Army and Navy during this war, and they performed a variety of duties, including cooking, laundry, and clerical work.
* World War I: Over 12,000 women served in the U.S. military during World War I. They served in a variety of roles, including nurses, telephone operators, and clerical workers.
* World War II: Over 350,000 women served in the U.S. military during World War II. They served in a variety of roles, including nurses, pilots, mechanics, and intelligence officers.
* Vietnam War: Women continued to serve in the U.S. military during the Vietnam War, although they were not allowed to serve in combat roles.
These are just a few examples of the ways in which the pre-war barriers to enlistment for African Americans and women were broken down. As a result of these efforts, African Americans and women have made significant contributions to the United States military and have helped to make it the strong and diverse force it is today.