Earliest America's military can be desegregated

[Lost the game]

When is the earliest point at which the United States could desegregate its military? Is it plausible to do so in a scenario where the US gets involved in World War I early, leading to higher casualty rates, perhaps under a President less over-the-top racist than Woodrow Wilson? Perhaps a health scare costs FDR the Presidency in 1940, and as a result a Republican president like Wendell Willkie, having no need to play nice with the segregationist South, decides to desegregate the military as a wartime measure?

 

[Marc]

Short answer: No. Far too many Americans were terrified of race from 1619 onwards.

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid

The amazing story is that our better angels eventually started prevailing as soon as they did...

 

[gladiator8085]

If I remember correctly, the USN was desegregated until Wilson resegregated it upon his election in 1912.

 

[Peg Leg Pom]

1865, with the demobilisation at the end of the Civil War remaining regular regiments are amalgamated to fight the Indian wars. Recruitment issues mean that coloured recruits are required to make up the numbers.

 

[Johnrankins]

1865, with the demobilisation at the end of the Civil War remaining regular regiments are amalgamated to fight the Indian wars. Recruitment issues mean that coloured recruits are required to make up the numbers.

Stick them in the USCT like in OTL. The US had no real problems with recruitment for it.

 

[Deleted member 87099]

Theoretically it could have been from the get-go as formal segregation in the army only occurred decades after the American Revolution.