Blacks and the American Revolution

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the military participation of African-Americans, especially slaves, who served in both the American and British forces during the American Revolution. Why did blacks, both free and enslaved, serve and how instrumental was their service in defeating the British? The paper shows that black forces fought on both sides during the American Revolution, and their contributions to both armies were extremely important. A large number of blacks earned their freedom as a result of the fighting, and many more gave their lives in the name of freedom. The paper shows that while blacks did not single-handedly win the American Revolution, their service was instrumental in many areas, including espionage and infiltration of the enemy.

From the Paper:

"Dunmore had some compelling reasons to offer the blacks their freedom. His troops in Virginia only numbered about 300 because of "desertion and harassment," and he was desperate to find new forces to help defend the English loyalists in Williamsburg and other communities (Editors 2005). Dunmore was desperate for recruits, and would take them wherever he could get them. Of course, many Virginia slave owners found his actions to be controversial and frightening. They feared a slave revolt could come as a result of Dunmore's plea for men. His plan worked, he recruited hundreds of black soldiers, but the Congress of Virginia denounced his plan and threatened slaves with death if they escaped their masters."

More papers on Blacks and the American Revolution:

• Term Paper # 75439 : "Blacks and the American Revolution"
• Persuasive Essay # 96472 : "Radicalism and the American Revolution"
• Analytical Essay # 68027 : "The American Revolution"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: