Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2016
Last exams 2025
The Exoduster Movement, 1879 (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Zoe Wade
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
How Successful was the Exoduster Movement? - Timeline & Summary
The term 'Exoduster' comes from:
Exodus - A mass movement of people. There is a Bible story about the Exodus of Moses and the Israelites from Egypt
Dust - Represents the dry, dusty American West
Following the American Civil War, the US government abolished slavery. Despite this, many black Americans in the South continued to face discrimination. In search of opportunities and freedom, thousands of black Americans embarked on a mass migration to the Plains. In states such as Kansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska, land was available under the Homestead Act of 1862.
The Exoduster movement had mixed success. Many migrants did not prepare for the harsh environment of the Plains. They had limited access to resources and support. In addition, they faced ongoing discrimination from white settlers. Some Exodusters were able to establish successful communities on the Plains. Other black settlers struggled to make a living. This forced many Exodusters to return to the South or move in search of better opportunities.
Reasons for the Exoduster Movement
In 1879, 40,000 black Americans moved to the state of Kansas
Push factors | Pull factors |
|---|---|
Politicians in the southern states were still racist | Some politicians in the northern states were passionate about increasing the civil rights of black Americans |
Many ex-enslaved people in the South became ‘sharecroppers'. They still worked farmland for very little reward | Many ex-enslaved people lived in poverty. Moving West would open up more opportunities |
The Ku Klux Klan was set up in Tennessee in 1866. Klansmen would murder and intimidate black Americans | Kansas had been a ‘free state’ since 1861. Black Americans saw it as ‘The Promised Land'. They believed that God would keep them safe |
Black Americans were open to the idea of migration, even to places like Liberia, a new state in Africa | |
Black Americans could claim the Homestead Act. It was only the Indigenous tribes who were restricted from owning homestead land |
Examiner Tips and Tricks
In your revision, it is helpful to consider the ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors behind certain events. ‘Push’ factors are events or motivations for someone to act. 'Pull’ factors are benefits from performing an action. Considering the ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors will help you to explain why black Americans migrated to Kansas.
Push and pull factors are also useful in your exam if you are asked to write a narrative account of the Exoduster Movement.
The 'Exodus' to Kansas
The Impacts of the Exoduster Movement
Short-Term Impacts
The settlement of the West
Over 43,000 black Americans lived in Kansas by 1880
Black Americans created settlements like Nicodemus
The lives of black settlers
They became ill on their migration with yellow fever
The Exodusters had the worst land in Kansas
Many Exodusters did not have enough money to claim the Homestead Act
There was very little support from charities to help struggling Exodusters
Responses
The government:
Established an organisation to give the Exodusters:
A colony for them to live in
A small amount of state funding
The white settlers in Kansas:
Opposed the government helping the Exodusters
Insisted that the government force the Exodusters to return to the South
Long-Term Impacts
By the 1880s:
The amount of Exodusters travelling to Kansas reduced
The black migrants who moved to Kansas were more prepared with money and resources
Exoduster migrants in Kansas were:
Poorer than white settlers
The Exodusters still earned more than they had previously done in the South
Leaving Kansas
There was a smaller wave of migration of black settlers to Oklahoma and Nebraska
Worked Example
Explain the importance of the Exoduster movement (1879) for the growth of settlement in the West
8 marks
Partial answer:
The Exoduster movement was important for settlement because black Americans had hope for a better life in the West. Black Americans in the southern states were treated very poorly by white settlers and politicians. The local governments still believed in slavery and used ex-enslaved people as sharecroppers. This increased settlement because it 'pushed' many black Americans out of the South and to the West. Many black Americans believed that they would have better treatment, pay and opportunities in the North and West of the country. This increased settlement because black Americans wanted to settle in the West for a life of freedom.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
This style of question in the exam paper would be worth 8 marks. An examiner would expect you to write two paragraphs analysing the importance of an event on a wider theme like migration. A good response to this style of question would have:
A logical structure of paragraphs. Within each paragraph, each sentence should link to the next. This will build a strong argument as to why the event is important to the wider theme
Specific own knowledge linked to the event, showing in-depth knowledge of the period
A clear explanation as to why the event was important to a wider theme. In the example above, you can see the phrase 'This increased settlement'. This helps to keep the response focused on the question.
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