A Historic Context for the African-American Military Experience: Before the Civil War, Blacks in Union and Confederate Army, Buffalo Soldier, Scouts, Spanish-American War, World War I and II

Professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction, this important work by the Army recognizes and highlights the contributions of African Americans to the military history of the United States. This is accomplished by providing a historic context on the African American military experience for use by Department of Defense (DoD) cultural resource managers. Managers can use this historic context, to recognize significant sites, buildings, and objects on DoD property related to African American military history by nominating them for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. In this manner, civilian and military personnel currently serving in all major services will be made aware of the contributions of African Americans to our military heritage. While the focus of this work is on all-black military units, significant individuals will be recognized also.

Chapter 1 - Introduction * By Steven D. Smith * Background * Objective * Historic Context Research Design * Project Scope * Methods * Report Organization * Summary * Chapter 2 - African American Soldiers Before the Civil War * By Elizabeth Arnett Fields * Early Colonial Conflicts * Service in Non-English Colonies * American Revolution * Blacks in the Armed Forces, 1783-1812 * War of 1812 * Black Soldiers in the Antebellum Period * Summary * Chapter 3 - African Americans in the Civil War * By Keith Krawczynski and Steven D. Smith * Introduction * Northern Attitudes Toward Arming the Black Man * Service in the Union Navy * Blacks in the Confederate Army * Blacks in the Union Army * Confederate Response to the Union Enlistment of African Americans * Black Soldiers Life and Labor * The Martial Spirit * Summary * Chapter 4 - The West 1865-1897 * By Elizabeth Arnett Fields * Introduction * The Creation of Black Regiments * Origin of the Term "Buffalo Soldier" * Cavalry Regiments * Infantry Regiments * Seminole Negro-Indian Scouts * Service in Other Branches of the Army * First Black Cadets at West Point * Problems Faced by the Black Troops In the West * Qualities of the Buffalo Soldiers * Summary * Chapter 5 - The Spanish American War and Aftermath * By Keith Krawczynski * Spanish American War * African American Attitudes Towards War with Spain * Black Regular Army Cavalry and Infantry Units * State Volunteer Units In the War * Immune Regiments * The Philippines * Reactions to Increased Racial Discrimination * Punitive Expedition * African Americans in the National Guard * Naval Service, 1865-1917 * Summary * Chapter 6 - World War I * By Keith Krawczynski * Declaration of War * African American Call to Arms * Recruitment * Appeasement of African Americans * Creation of Black Units * Demands for African American Officers * Training in the United States * Labor Battalions Overseas * Combat in France * Postwar 1918-1940 * Summary * Chapter 7 - African American Navy, Marine, Women's Reserves, and Coast Guard Service During World War II * By Keith Krawczynski * Introduction * Dorie Miller * U.S. Navy * Marine Corps * Coast Guard * Merchant Marine * Women's Reserve Corps * Summary * Chapter 8 - African Americans in the U.S. Army During World War II * By Robert F. Jefferson * Introduction * Quotas: Linkages of Black Intelligence and Combat Efficiency and Discrimination, 1920-1941 * Black Response to War and War Department Intransigence * The Stateside Employment and Training of Black Personnel and Units at Regular Army Facilities: 1941-1944 * Race, Labor, and War: The Employment of Black Troops in the African, Pacific, and European Theaters * Summary * Chapter 9 - Victory and Context: Recognition of African American Contributions to American Military History * By Steven D. Smith, Keith Krawczynski, and Robert F. Jefferson * The Integration of the Armed Forces 1946-1954 * Historic Context: Themes and Sites * Installation Survey * Summary