Although obtaining land and resources was important to the U.S at the time the cost of war was a real concern. And even though the Union won the the Civil war, they still had to deal with the rebellion of the South. They became violent towards African Americans and secretly owned slaves.

Benjiman "pap" Singleton was a former slave who was greatly responsible for the influence on African Americans at that time. They believed that the West was the "promise land." After being oppressed for so long African Americans of this time looked at the vast opportunities that were presented by moving West.