Which statement is true about black soldiers in the Civil War?

A) At the beginning of the war, the Union army encouraged northern blacks to enlist.
B) About 2,000 African-American men served in the army and navy by the end of the war.
C) Frederick Douglass tried to discourage black men from enlisting to fight in the war.
D) Black soldiers in the army received equal pay and equal treatment during the war.
E) The wartime service of black soldiers inspired Abraham Lincoln to advocate for partial enfranchisement of blacks.

By the end of the Civil War, approximately 180,000 African-American men had served in the Union army and navy, far more than the 2,000 mentioned in option B. The Union army did not initially encourage black enlistment, and it was only later in the war that African Americans were actively recruited and allowed to serve, contradicting option A. Frederick Douglass was actually a prominent advocate for black enlistment, believing it would help the cause of freedom and equality, which contradicts option C. Black soldiers faced significant discrimination in pay and treatment, contrary to the claim in option D. Their service, however, did play a role in changing attitudes towards African Americans, including influencing Abraham Lincoln's views on black suffrage, making option E correct.