As the war progressed, as many as 500,000 slaves had joined the Union as free slaves. Along with those, a majority were inspired to serve in the Union army. Lincoln took advantage of this and enacted the Second Confiscation and Militia acts, both in 1962, to help in building his army up to an unmatched size compared to the Confederacy. As much as 15% of the Union army was black at some point. They played a large role in not only fighting on the front lines but performing specific tasks and jobs behind the scenes to assist in the Union army's effort.
When president Lincoln put in place the Emancipation Proclamation, the North and South were now fighting for a specific reason, and that was for slavery. When this was made evident to many foreign countries such as England and France, who were being influenced by the South through their cotton and tobacco, those countries began to support the Union. This was because both England and France had acted against human bondage and did not want to support the South for that very reason.
http://www2.coloradocollege.edu/dept/HY/Hy243Ruiz/Research/civilwar.html
When president Lincoln put in place the Emancipation Proclamation, the North and South were now fighting for a specific reason, and that was for slavery. When this was made evident to many foreign countries such as England and France, who were being influenced by the South through their cotton and tobacco, those countries began to support the Union. This was because both England and France had acted against human bondage and did not want to support the South for that very reason.
http://www2.coloradocollege.edu/dept/HY/Hy243Ruiz/Research/civilwar.html