Final answer:
The Exodusters were African Americans who migrated out west following the Civil War to escape racial oppression and seek new opportunities. They were significant in the history of the American West, facing both opposition and hardships. Some worked as cowboys and Buffalo Soldiers, contributing to the development of the American frontier.
Step-by-step explanation:
African American Migrants Known as Exodusters
The name given to the black people who moved out west post-Civil War is Exodusters. This migratory movement was significant in the history of the American West as thousands of African Americans sought to escape the racial oppression and violence of the Old South in pursuit of new economic opportunities and political freedom. Around 1879-1880, over twenty-five thousand Exodusters arrived in Kansas. This mass migration also sparked a congressional investigation due to fears among Southern whites about losing their labor force, and objections from Northern whites who opposed black migration to their communities. The Exodusters were pioneers, pooling their resources to move to places like Kansas and Indiana, with the hope of finding homesteads and freedom they were denied after Reconstruction.
In addition to becoming farmers, some of these migrants worked as cowboys during the Texas cattle drives, while others served as Buffalo Soldiers. The Buffalo Soldiers were African American soldiers who, among other duties, protected settlers and helped to build infrastructure to support western settlement. Unfortunately, many migrants faced challenges such as discrimination, crop failures, and economic hardships. Yet, the movement symbolized a determined quest for autonomy and the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness promised to all American citizens.