Opportunities for african americans in the far west included jobs in:

African americans at the time just came out of slavery and needed money to provide for there families. so they joined for the money mainly.

The embargo act of 1807  was a law passed by the united state congress and signed by president thomas jefferson on december 22,  1807. it prohibited american ships from trading in all foreign ports. in 1806, france passed a law that prohibited trade between neutral parties, like the u.s., and britain.