Encyclopedia

This interactive encyclopedia offers teachers and students access to terms, people, and events related to the history of Slavery in America. Many entries include reference material and some of the biographies on prominent figures contain suggestions for teaching as well as links to related sections of this site. The encyclopedia will continue to grow throughout the course of this project.

369th Infantry Division of the United States Army: An African-American division that fought in France in World War I (WWI) and won the prized Croix de Guerre--the only American unit to be so honored. These soldiers were called "Hell Fighters" by their French commanders in recognition of their valor. Four National Guard units also fought with the French during the war, but only the Illinois Guard had African-American units. These units were loaned to the French principally because U. S. Army officials did not wish to send white soldiers. American authorities warned French officers that the black soldiers were potential rapists, who had to be kept away from civilian populations. Of the 380,000 black men serving in WWI, only 42,000 served in combat units. The rest were relegated to latrine and cooking duty and general cleaning and hauling work. When black soldiers returned home after the war, they were met with rage and anger from white Americans. Seventy African Americans were lynched in 1919, and ten of them were soldiers--some were killed in their uniforms. Many of these returning soldiers were so disgusted with the Jim Crow South that they moved to mid-western and eastern cities and towns in the decade following the war.