The Bataan Death March
9-12
1
The Buffalo Soldiers in the Philippines
Lesson Details
Grade Level
9-12
Duration (minutes)
1
Summary
A U.S. History lesson on the Buffalo Soldiers' conflicted role in the Philippine-American War, and Corporal David Fagen's defection to fight alongside Filipino revolutionaries.
Student Worksheet: The Buffalo Soldiers in the Philippines
Teacher Note: Students can watch the video lesson above and answer the questions. Click the “Teacher Answer Key” dropdown below when you are ready to review the solutions!
Key Concepts:
• The Buffalo Soldiers: Veteran African American regiments sent to help the U.S. enforce colonial rule over the Philippines after the Spanish-American War.
• A Bitter Irony: These soldiers faced brutal racism under Jim Crow at home, yet were tasked with crushing another non-white people’s independence movement.
• A Direct Appeal: Filipino revolutionaries distributed posters calling Black soldiers “colored American brothers,” asking why they fought for a country that lynched them.
• David Fagen: A Buffalo Soldier who defected, became a celebrated captain in the Filipino army, and was hailed as a hero by locals.
Instructions: Read each question carefully and write your answer in the space provided.
- Question 1: Who were the “Buffalo Soldiers,” and why were they sent to the Philippines?
- Question 2: What “bitter irony” does the video describe about their situation?
- Question 3: What did the Filipino posters say to try to persuade Black soldiers?
- Question 4: Who was David Fagen, and what did he do?
- Question 5: Why do you think some soldiers felt a personal connection to the Filipino independence movement?
- Question 6: The video ends by asking: “What is loyalty when you’re fighting for an oppressor?” Write your own answer to this question, using evidence from the lesson.
Click to reveal Teacher Answer Key
1. Veteran African American army regiments; they were sent to help enforce U.S. colonial rule after the Spanish-American War.
2. They faced brutal racism under Jim Crow laws at home, yet were tasked with crushing another non-white people’s fight for independence.
3. They called the Black soldiers “colored American brothers” and asked why they fought for a country that lynched them.
4. A Buffalo Soldier corporal who defected, became a celebrated captain in the Filipino army, and was hailed as a hero by locals.
5. Answers will vary — check that students connect the soldiers’ own experience of racial oppression to the Filipinos’ fight against colonial rule.
6. Open-ended — evaluate based on thoughtful use of evidence from the lesson, not a single “correct” answer.
Disclaimer: This worksheet was generated with AI assistance based on original video content. It is intended for educational reference only. Teachers are encouraged to review and adjust questions to fit their curriculum standards before classroom use.
🎯 Extension Activity: Have students write a short persuasive poster (like the ones Filipino revolutionaries distributed) from either perspective — a Filipino revolutionary appealing to Black soldiers, or a Buffalo Soldier explaining his choice to stay or defect — using specific reasons from the lesson.