Did the West bring opportunities or more discrimination for African Americans? Who were the Buffalo Soldiers? The Exodusters?
The west brought opportunities for the African Americans, no doubt, the Buffalo Soldiers being a great example, but African Americans were still very discriminated.
Exodusters
Exodusters was a name given to African Americans who migrated from states along the Mississippi River to Kansas in the late nineteenth century, as part of the Exoduster Movement or Exodus of 1879.It was the first general migration of blacks following the Civil War.
As many as 40 thousand exodusters left the south to settle in Kansas. Most African Americans left the south thinking they could be free, only to be stranded in St. Louis, Missouri. Black churches created the Colored Relief Board.
Buffalo Soilders
African Americans have served proudly in every great American war. Over two hundred thousand African American servicemen fought bravely during the Civil War. In 1866 through an act of congress, legislation was adopted to create six all African American army units. The units were identified as the 9th and 10th cavalry and the 38th, 39th, 40th and 41st infantry regiments. The four infantry units were reorganized in 1868 as the 24th and the 25th infantry. Black soldiers enlisted for five years and received $13.00 a month, far more than they could have earned in civilian life.