What slowed down US involvement WW I

Can someone read this article and tell me the 1) key ideas and 2) one key quote (copy and paste the link the article is not to long at all)from

Situation #2: imagine that you are a newspaper editor in columbus, oh in 1863. the civil war has been dragging on for more than two years already and shows no signs of ending soon. you are aware that many black males are willing to enlist in the union army but you fear that they may be mistreated and abused by the majority of soldiers on either side in this war. write a one-page letter (double spaced) editorial for tomorrow's edition of the newspaper. the topic is military service in the union army by free african american males. in your editorial, take a clear position for or against having black men join the fight. be sure to give reasons for whatever position you choose to take.

What do you call places that belong to united states but arent states