READING CHECK || "African-American Pioneers"

Based on the article, why were the early black pioneers important to the African-Americans who later moved west?

• They set up safe communities for African-Americans.
• They helped other African-Americans find jobs in the West.
• They taught other African-Americans how to work as ranch hands.
• They showed other African-Americans that it was possible to be successful in the West.

What effect did African-American pioneers have on cities in the West?

• African-American pioneers moved west with their families and helped establish schools in their new communities.
• African-American pioneers served as police officers who kept the peace in cities in the West.
• African-American pioneers owned land and businesses in the West.
• African-American pioneers worked as railroad engineers and helped to bring passengers to new cities in the West.

Which section of the article highlights the idea that black pioneers continued to face racism and discrimination in the West?

• "New Frontier Cities Beckoned"
• "Notable Pioneer James Beckwourth"
• "Black Cowboys and Prospectors"
• "Post-Civil War Trail Blazing"

Several members of all-black Civil War-era units traveled west to establish new lives after the conflict. By what term were these African-American regiments known as?

• Buffalo Soldiers
• 34th Massachusetts
• Gadsden's Militia
• Bucktail Regiment

According to the article, which of the following MOST contributed to the increase in African-American migration westward after the Civil War?

• Territories in the West offered land to former slaves for low prices.
• Ranchers heavily recruited African-American cowboys to work with cattle.
• The California Gold Rush inspired many former slaves to move west.
• Former slaves had the skills needed to work as cowboys.

Which piece of evidence BEST explains how westward migration allowed African-American pioneers to establish their independence?

• The state demanded a "behavioral tax" of $6,000 from black people, supposedly to guarantee that they would behave appropriately.
• In 1994, the U.S. Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp in Beckwourth's honor.
• He was able to gain his freedom and became a cattle rancher himself, later having a cattle trail in Texas named after him.
• For example, the “Buffalo Soldiers” were founded as an all-black regiment in the U.S. Army, and earned many honors for their service.

Which statement BEST represents African-American pioneers' approach toward settling in the West?

• They were eager to accept jobs in the West that were considered too difficult for white pioneers.
• They wanted to create family friendly communities for former slaves out West.
• They strove to establish themselves out West as free men and landowners.
• They focused primarily on the injustices and discrimination they faced in the new territories.

How does the article develop the idea that African-American pioneers played a crucial role in the settling of the western territories of the United States?

• by demonstrating the impact that individual African-American pioneers made on the West
• by describing the leadership roles that African-American pioneers took on during the westward expansion
• by showing how new states in the West warmly accepted African-American pioneers into their communities
• by suggesting that African-American pioneers were the main reason territories in the West succeeded

The author MAINLY explains the importance of African-American pioneers by ____.

• highlighting the contributions of several important African-American pioneers
• comparing the contributions of African-American pioneers with the contributions of white pioneers
• explaining how the West would have been different without African-American pioneers
• describing how African-American pioneers were welcomed by white pioneers

Based on information in the article, which of these statements is TRUE?

• African-American pioneers helped to settle the West by taking jobs that white pioneers did not want.
• The western territories were places where African-Americans could live without discrimination.
• African-American pioneers made important discoveries that helped the United States expand to the west.
• The western territories relied on African-American pioneers to establish relationships with Native Americans.