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Black History and Blacks in U.S. History

Buffalo Soldiers

Buffalo Soldiers
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 4 to 6
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   5.74

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    desertion, esteem, paycheck, communication, successful, education, maintain, slavery, newly, skilled, cunning, shaggy, patrol, bravery, actual, military
     content words:    United States, Civil War, Now African-Americans, United States Army, Mississippi River, Native Americans, Buffalo Soldiers, Many Native Americans

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Buffalo Soldiers
By Jane Runyon 		  
1     African-Americans served in the United States' military before they were actual citizens. Regiments of black soldiers were recruited for the Civil War. They fought bravely. They counted on being free if the North was successful in winning the Civil War. Over 186,000 blacks fought in the war. More than 38,000 were killed in battle.
 
2     When the Civil War ended, slavery was abolished. Now African-Americans could choose jobs on their own. It sounds easy. It wasn't. White people feared the blacks. The two groups didn't know how to live with each other. Education had been denied slaves. Most of the newly freed slaves could neither read nor write. What jobs would be available to them?
 
3     Many black males chose to remain in the military. The life was not easy. It did provide food, shelter, some education, and a steady paycheck. There were few civilian jobs that could provide those benefits. Competition for available jobs was fierce.

Paragraphs 4 to 10:
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