A Level History - America - Practice Exam

Approximately how many African Americans volunteered for military service during World War I?

1. 200,000

2. 360,000

3. 500,000

4. 1 million

The correct answer is: 360,000

The choice of 360,000 is correct as it reflects the estimated number of African Americans who served in the military during World War I. This includes both those who were drafted and those who volunteered. During the war, despite facing significant discrimination and segregation, many African Americans enlisted in hopes of proving their loyalty and worthiness for equal rights and opportunities. The military organized African Americans predominantly into separate units, such as the famous 369th Infantry Regiment, known as the Harlem Hellfighters, which went on to receive high honors for their bravery in combat. The other estimates presented do not accurately capture the historical context or data: 200,000 is considerably lower than the actual number of enlistments; 500,000 is an inflated figure, and while it may reflect broader aspects of the African American experience during the war, it does not represent the specific number of service members; and 1 million is also an unrealistic overestimate, given the total military participation figures for that time. The number 360,000 thus provides a more accurate representation of African American military service during World War I.