However, it is true that the Union (northern) army had a much larger number of African-American soldiers than the Confederacy (southern) army. This was due to several factors, including:
* The demographics of the two regions: The northern states had a much larger black population than the southern states. In 1860, there were over 4 million free blacks living in the North, compared to only about 1 million slaves in the South.
* The policies of the two governments: The Union government actively recruited African-American soldiers, while the Confederate government initially resisted doing so. It was not until 1865, near the end of the war, that the Confederacy finally authorized the formation of black units.
* The attitudes of the white population: White northerners were generally more supportive of African-American soldiers than white southerners. This was due in part to the abolitionist movement, which had been campaigning for the end of slavery for decades.
As a result of these factors, the Union army eventually mustered over 180,000 African-American soldiers, while the Confederate army only mustered about 10,000. African-American soldiers played a significant role in the Union victory, and their service helped to pave the way for the abolition of slavery and the civil rights movement.