African-Americans in the American Revolution As
Jennifer DePaoli EDUP&L 863 November 7, 2010 Curriculum Development Project: African-Americans in the American Revolution As the English colonies in the New World became more developed and populated, conflicts began to arise between England and the colonists. After providing troops and money for fighting of the French and Indian War, the British Parliament passed legislation to tax the colonies, but colonial leaders, unhappy with the idea of “taxation without representation,” began organizing around the idea of independence. As Britain attempted to enact laws to control the colonies, skirmishes broke out between British soldiers and colonists, and as tensions grew, Patriot leaders began to see the need for building a fighting force. Led by General George Washington, the Continental Army began forming regiments throughout the colonies, but many of its leaders, including Washington, struggled with including African-Americans – both freedmen and slaves – amongst the ranks of white soldiers. However, by the time the war was over and the colonies earned their independence, many African- Americans fought on both sides and played important roles both on and off the battlefield. African-Americans at the time of the Revolution In 1775, Britain and the American colonies were inching closer to war over independence, and at the same time there were approximately 450,000 Africans enslaved in all thirteen colonies (National Park Service [NPS], 2008). While the majority of slavery existed in the south, Africans were treated as second class citizens across the board, and in the discussion of colonial liberty, slaves were not included in the conversation. The irony of white colonists fighting for their freedom while simultaneously holding slaves was not completely lost on all Patriot leaders.
[Show full text]