2/9/16
Why Buffalo Soldiers were chosen to protect the first National Parks, 1886-1914.
From 1886 to 1914, the Buffalo Soldiers assisted with the protection of the National Parks, in particular Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks. However, there is little information describing much about their service as park rangers there other than the benefits they brought to the parks. There is no clear reason as to why these soldiers were sent to guard the prestigious parks, instead of the white soldiers that were more respected at this time by white settlers then the Buffalo Soldiers themselves. Perhaps the main reasons to explain why Buffalo Soldiers were chosen to guard and protect the nation’s first national parks were because they were …show more content…
The Buffalo Soldiers were currently guarding many of the West’s institutions during their prior service in the Indian Wars. They guarded railroads, towns and forts, to include settlers, stagecoaches, banks, etc. The federal government was concerned about the damage that might happen to the parks should the white soldiers guard them. This is because white soldiers were more sympathetic to their fellow white men, which might allow for the exploitation of the National Parks’ resources to be taken and removed for private use. Just like the National Parks were a novelty as the first such parks ever in the world, so were the Buffalo Soldiers a novelty to the US Army as the first African American peacetime regiments. …show more content…
However, there is little information describing an adequate reason as to why these soldiers were sent to guard the prestigious parks instead of the white soldiers that were more respected by white settlers then the Buffalo Soldiers themselves. In theory, one could assume Buffalo Soldiers were chosen to guard and protect the nation’s first national parks, because they were already guarding multiple regions in the West; they were less likely to accept bribes from those wanting to exploit the parks’ resources; and these soldiers were a novelty in a country full of prejudice. Buffalo Soldiers guarded many of West’s institutions during their prior service in the Indian Wars, including guarded railroads, towns, forts, settlers, stage coaches, etc. The federal government feared that there was a greater chance for corporations and others to damage the parks should the white soldiers guard it. White men were more sympathetic to other white men then African American soldiers were, who were looked down upon by white settlers. The Buffalo Soldiers were the first official African American peacetime troops established and were a novelty in the US Army. The aforementioned reasons explain why the Buffalo Soldiers were chosen to guard the National Parks until