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African Americans in the African Americans in the revolutionrevolution

““realizing that loyalty was not to a realizing that loyalty was not to a place or a person, but to a place or a person, but to a

principle" principle"

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It is estimated that 5,000 African Americans It is estimated that 5,000 African Americans served as soldiers for the Continental army served as soldiers for the Continental army while more than 20,000 fought for the British while more than 20,000 fought for the British cause.cause.

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One fifth of the total population was One fifth of the total population was enslaved [1776], about 500,000 black men, enslaved [1776], about 500,000 black men, women and children. women and children.

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Prior to the revolution, many free African Prior to the revolution, many free African Americans supported the anti-British Americans supported the anti-British cause, most famously cause, most famously CrispusCrispus Attucks Attucks, , believed to be the first person killed at the believed to be the first person killed at the Boston MassacreBoston Massacre. At the time of the . At the time of the American Revolution, some African American Revolution, some African Americans had already been enlisted as Americans had already been enlisted as MinutemenMinutemen. Both free and enslaved blacks . Both free and enslaved blacks had served in local militias, especially in had served in local militias, especially in the the NorthNorth defending their villages against defending their villages against attacks by attacks by Native AmericansNative Americans. .

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Crispus Attucks graveCrispus Attucks grave

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Crispus Attucks Boston MassacreCrispus Attucks Boston Massacre

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American states had to meet quotas of American states had to meet quotas of troops for the new troops for the new Continental ArmyContinental Army, and , and New England regiments recruited African New England regiments recruited African American slaves by promising freedom to American slaves by promising freedom to those who served in the Continental Army. those who served in the Continental Army. During the course of the war, about one fifth During the course of the war, about one fifth of the northern army was African American of the northern army was African American

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Salem Poor - Bunker HillSalem Poor - Bunker Hill

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Salem PoorSalem Poor

"A Brave and Gallant Soldier""A Brave and Gallant Soldier"Salem Poor earned his place in history. during "the Salem Poor earned his place in history. during "the Battle of Charleston"-known today as the Battle of Battle of Charleston"-known today as the Battle of Bunker Hill. In this battle, African Americans Bunker Hill. In this battle, African Americans suffered more than 1,000 casualties. At the Battle suffered more than 1,000 casualties. At the Battle of Bunker Hill, Salem Poor performed so well that of Bunker Hill, Salem Poor performed so well that fourteen officers sent a petition to the fourteen officers sent a petition to the Massachusetts legislature declaring that he Massachusetts legislature declaring that he behaved like an experienced officer, as well as an behaved like an experienced officer, as well as an excellent soldier and added that "a reward was excellent soldier and added that "a reward was due to so great and distinguished a character." due to so great and distinguished a character."

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Peter SalemPeter Salem

Peter Salem was a celebrated marksman and Peter Salem was a celebrated marksman and leader within his Colonial troop even though he leader within his Colonial troop even though he was black. However, the soldier and other black was black. However, the soldier and other black and American Indian Minutemen were rebuffed by and American Indian Minutemen were rebuffed by General George Washington when he arrived in General George Washington when he arrived in July 1775 to take command of a "salt and pepper" July 1775 to take command of a "salt and pepper" army. While Washington - who owned 326 slaves - army. While Washington - who owned 326 slaves - initially dismissed black Colonial soldiers, Salem initially dismissed black Colonial soldiers, Salem was later allowed back in the army, where he was was later allowed back in the army, where he was lauded by his compatriots for his sharpshooting lauded by his compatriots for his sharpshooting skills - and given a wool Bounty Coat as an award skills - and given a wool Bounty Coat as an award of distinction. of distinction.

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Because of manpower shortages at sea, Because of manpower shortages at sea, both the both the Continental navyContinental navy and and Royal NavyRoyal Navy signed African Americans into the navy. signed African Americans into the navy. Even southern colonies, which worried Even southern colonies, which worried about putting guns into the hands of slaves about putting guns into the hands of slaves for the army, had no qualms about using for the army, had no qualms about using blacks to pilot vessels and to handle the blacks to pilot vessels and to handle the ammunition on ships. ammunition on ships.

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Revolutionary leaders began to be fearful of Revolutionary leaders began to be fearful of using African Americans in the armed using African Americans in the armed forces. They were afraid that slaves who forces. They were afraid that slaves who were armed would uprise against them. were armed would uprise against them. Slave owners became concerned that Slave owners became concerned that military service would eventually free their military service would eventually free their slaves. slaves.

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In May 1775, the Massachusetts In May 1775, the Massachusetts Committee of SafetyCommittee of Safety, stopped the enlistment , stopped the enlistment of slaves in the armies of the colony. This of slaves in the armies of the colony. This action was adopted by the Continental action was adopted by the Continental Congress when they took over the Patriot Congress when they took over the Patriot Army. Army. George WashingtonGeorge Washington in July 1775 in July 1775 issued an order to recruiters, ordering them issued an order to recruiters, ordering them not to enroll "any deserter from the not to enroll "any deserter from the Ministerial army, nor any stroller, negro or Ministerial army, nor any stroller, negro or vagabond". vagabond".

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This order did not apply to blacks already serving This order did not apply to blacks already serving in the army. In September 1775, the southern in the army. In September 1775, the southern delegates moved that Washington should delegates moved that Washington should discharge all blacks, free or slaves. The northern discharge all blacks, free or slaves. The northern delegates were aware of how brave the African delegates were aware of how brave the African Americans had been in the Massachusetts battles Americans had been in the Massachusetts battles and opposed the notion. The blacks that were and opposed the notion. The blacks that were already in the army were then allowed to finish out already in the army were then allowed to finish out their enlistments. their enlistments.

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In October 1775, Washington announced that all In October 1775, Washington announced that all blacks, both free and slave would be "rejected blacks, both free and slave would be "rejected altogether." In November he said that "Neither altogether." In November he said that "Neither Negroes, boys unable to bear arms, nor old men Negroes, boys unable to bear arms, nor old men unfit to endure the fatigues of the campaign, are to unfit to endure the fatigues of the campaign, are to be enlisted."Most African Americans were be enlisted."Most African Americans were integrated into existing military units, but some integrated into existing military units, but some segregated units were formed, such as the segregated units were formed, such as the Bucks of AmericaBucks of America. .

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Lord Dunmore's proclamation Lord Dunmore's proclamation

Lord DunmoreLord Dunmore, the royal governor of , the royal governor of VirginiaVirginia was was determined to maintain British rule in the southern determined to maintain British rule in the southern colonies. On November 7, 1775, he issued a colonies. On November 7, 1775, he issued a proclamation that he would free black and white proclamation that he would free black and white bondsmen who came to fight with the British. By bondsmen who came to fight with the British. By December 1775 the British army had 300 slaves December 1775 the British army had 300 slaves wearing a military uniform. Sewn on the breast of wearing a military uniform. Sewn on the breast of the uniform was the inscription "Liberty to Slaves". the uniform was the inscription "Liberty to Slaves". These slaves were designated as "These slaves were designated as "Lord Dunmore's Ethiopian RegimentLord Dunmore's Ethiopian Regiment." ."

1717

Military Response to Dunmore's Military Response to Dunmore's Proclamation Proclamation

Dunmore's Black soldiers had brought fear to the Patriots. Dunmore's Black soldiers had brought fear to the Patriots. In December 1775, Washington wrote a letter to Colonel In December 1775, Washington wrote a letter to Colonel Henry LeeHenry Lee stating that success in the war would come to stating that success in the war would come to whatever side could arm the blacks the fastest. whatever side could arm the blacks the fastest. Washington then issued orders to the recruiters to reenlist Washington then issued orders to the recruiters to reenlist the free blacks who had already served in the army. He the free blacks who had already served in the army. He worried that these soldiers may cross over to the British worried that these soldiers may cross over to the British side. Congress in 1776 agreed with Washington and free side. Congress in 1776 agreed with Washington and free blacks who had already served could be reenlisted. South blacks who had already served could be reenlisted. South Carolina and Carolina and GeorgiaGeorgia did resist in enlisting slaves as did resist in enlisting slaves as soldiers. African Americans from northern units did fight in soldiers. African Americans from northern units did fight in southern battles and some southern blacks were allowed to southern battles and some southern blacks were allowed to be a substitute for their master. be a substitute for their master.

1818

Aftermath of the War for African Aftermath of the War for African Americans Americans

On July 21, On July 21, 17821782 as the final British ship left Savannah, as the final British ship left Savannah, more than 5,000 African Americans left for more than 5,000 African Americans left for JamaicaJamaica or or St. AugustineSt. Augustine. Because they were the property of Loyalists . Because they were the property of Loyalists they never gained their freedom from slavery. About 300 they never gained their freedom from slavery. About 300 blacks in Savannah did not evacuate, fearing that they blacks in Savannah did not evacuate, fearing that they would be re-enslaved and established a colony in the would be re-enslaved and established a colony in the swamps of the swamps of the Savannah RiverSavannah River. In . In 17861786, many were back , many were back in bondage. The evacuation of Charleston in December in bondage. The evacuation of Charleston in December 1782 saw the departure of more than 5,000 blacks. Over 1782 saw the departure of more than 5,000 blacks. Over half were slaves still belonging to Loyalists and went to the half were slaves still belonging to Loyalists and went to the West Indies. Another 500 slaves went to West Indies. Another 500 slaves went to east Floridaeast Florida..

1919

Many of the Patriots' slaves who sided with the British were Many of the Patriots' slaves who sided with the British were promised their freedom. They sailed to promised their freedom. They sailed to New YorkNew York, England, , England, and Nova Scotia. In New York, the British created a and Nova Scotia. In New York, the British created a registry of escaped slaves, called the "Book of Negroes". registry of escaped slaves, called the "Book of Negroes". The registry included details of their enslavement, escape The registry included details of their enslavement, escape and service to the British. If their claim was believed the and service to the British. If their claim was believed the slave received a certificate entitling them transport out of slave received a certificate entitling them transport out of New York. By the time the "Book of Negroes" was closed, it New York. By the time the "Book of Negroes" was closed, it had the names of 1,336 men, 914 women, and 750 had the names of 1,336 men, 914 women, and 750 children, who all resettled in Nova Scotia. About 200 former children, who all resettled in Nova Scotia. About 200 former slaves went to London as free people slaves went to London as free people

2020

The African American Patriot who gave loyal The African American Patriot who gave loyal service to the Continental Army found that the service to the Continental Army found that the postwar military held no rewards for them. State postwar military held no rewards for them. State legislatures like Connecticut and Massachusetts in legislatures like Connecticut and Massachusetts in 1784 and 1785 banned all blacks, free or slave, 1784 and 1785 banned all blacks, free or slave, from military service. Southern states banned all from military service. Southern states banned all slaves but some states allowed free men to serve slaves but some states allowed free men to serve in their militias. In 1792, the United States in their militias. In 1792, the United States Congress formally excluded the African American Congress formally excluded the African American from military service, allowing only "free able-from military service, allowing only "free able-bodied white male citizens" to serve bodied white male citizens" to serve

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Many slaves who fought did receive their Many slaves who fought did receive their freedom, but many others did not after their freedom, but many others did not after their owners reneged on their promise to free owners reneged on their promise to free them for service in the military.them for service in the military.