The inclusion of African Americans in the Civil War proved to be beneficial to the Union Army. After the Emancipation Proclamation allowed the African Americans to fight onin the Union Army, the African Americans showed courage and bravery when fighting. Some famous African American groups in the Union Army were the 54th Massachusetts Regiment and the African Americans of Fort Pillow. African Americans also fought on the Confederate side of the war. The Civil War ended 2 years after African American soldiers were allowed to fight in the Civil War.