Which Civil War regiment was composed primarily of African American soldiers from Massachusetts?

• A. 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
• B. 29th Massachusetts Infantry
• C. 1st Massachusetts Cavalry
• D. 9th United States Colored Infantry

Answer: (A)

The main idea is recognizing how Black soldiers shaped the Civil War and which Massachusetts unit was formed around that idea. The 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry fits best because it was established specifically to recruit Black soldiers from Massachusetts, with enlistments largely drawn from Black communities in and around the state. It was commanded by white officers, including Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, and its Black enlisted men proved their effectiveness in battle. Their assault on Fort Wagner in 1863 became a powerful symbol of Black valor and helped open the door for more African American troops to serve in the Union Army. The other options were white Massachusetts regiments or a United States Colored Troops unit not tied to Massachusetts, so they don’t match the description as closely.