pal·pa·ble   ADJECTIVE:   Capable of being handled, touched, or felt; tangible: "Anger rushed out in a palpable wave through his arms and legs" (Herman Wouk). Easily perceived; obvious: "There was a palpable sense of expectation in the court" (Nelson DeMille).

The word PALPABLE is used by the President in this letter to help express the care he is taking in emancipating as many slaves as possible while maintaining the Union---not causing the border states to secede, and not dividing the primarily white Union military.  The nation, as a whole, was not quite ready for total emancipation and the concept for "equal rights" for African-Americans. 

Go to the PBS site to read about how the new African-American soldiers and sailors performed in the Civil War, and how equality was evolving

AFRICANS IN AMERICA:  JUDGMENT DAY AT: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4narr5.html

QUESTIONS:  

When looking at the PBS site, scroll down to the newspaper front page image, and start reading about how the African-Americans desired to fight for the Union.  In actuality, many would even fight for the South, but probably not by free choice.

1.  How did the Union respond to the African-American calls to volunteer? 

2.  The Confiscation Act of August 6, 1861 was a beginning for a better condition for  African-Americans.  What was promised to each new freed slave family?   Did they actually get the promise?

3  What was the Freedmen's Relief Association?

4. African-American Union soldiers and sailors were not treated well in the early months of their service.  They were not even paid the same as white men.  What did the African-American soldiers do to bring about equality in pay and condition? 

5.  How many African-American men served in the Union forces?  How many died?

7.  In your opinion, do you think our country's feelings about  freedmen African-Americans serving in the Union military as equal to white men?  Why were these feelings more "palpable?"