Final answer:
Exodusters were Southern African American migrants who moved to the Great Plains and northern border states seeking freedom and opportunity post-Reconstruction. The push factors included racial discrimination, economic hardships, and violence in the South. Despite challenges, they established self-supporting communities and contributed to the economic development of the regions they moved to.
Step-by-step explanation:
Exodusters were African American migrants who moved from the Southern states to the Great Plains and northern border states such as Indiana after the end of Reconstruction. Around 20,000 individuals made this journey, driven by the desire for political, legal, and economic freedom that was denied to them in the post-Reconstruction South. The Exodusters demonstrated courage and determination by pooling their resources, planning their moves meticulously, and maintaining faith in a better future despite the numerous challenges they encountered.
The main push factors for the Exodusters included the resurgence of racial discrimination in the form of Jim Crow laws, the lack of economic opportunities in the South, and violence from white supremacist groups. These conditions, coupled with the diminishing prospects for African Americans following the end of Reconstruction, motivated the Exodusters to seek new lands where they hoped to live with greater dignity and autonomy. Their exodus also inspired congressional investigations and pushback from Southern whites who feared losing their labor force, as well as from Northern whites who opposed the influx of black settlers.