USA HISTORY

AMERICAN IMPERIALISM(1890 1919)

THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR

[SOURCES]
The ____ were a group of African American soldiers chosen to fight in the Spanish American War.

(A) Tuskegee Airmen

(B) ** Buffalo Solidiers

(C) Rough Riders

(D) Black Panthers

EXPLANATIONS BELOW

Concept note-1: -American Plains Indians who fought against these soldiers referred to the black cavalry troops as “buffalo soldiers” because of their dark, curly hair, which resembled a buffalo’s coat and because of their fierce nature of fighting. The nickname soon became synonymous with all African-American regiments formed in 1866.

Concept note-2: -African American soldiers served in the U.S. Army’s Seventh to Tenth U.S. Volunteer (Colored) Infantries and in the Tenth U.S. Cavalry (whose soldiers were commonly referred to as the “Buffalo Soldiers"). Five soldiers from these regiments were awarded the Medal of Honor.

Concept note-3: -Established in 1866, these units had previously served on the United States’ western frontier, where they came to be known as the “Buffalo Soldiers.” (According to many accounts, this nickname was given to them by the Native Americans they encountered and fought in the West.)

Concept note-4: -A leader among the legendary “Buffalo Soldiers", Charles Young (1864-1922) served in the segregated U-S Army of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Young was one of few black military officers.

Concept note-5: -The Black volunteer regiments sought recognition, although the general Black population strongly opposed America’s imperialistic policies in its newly acquired territories. Blacks saw the Cubans as their brothers and fellow victims in oppression, thus supporting the liberation of Cuba.