African Americans and the American Revolution

1
African Americans and the American Revolution

• Dr. Greg OBrien
• Department of History
• University of Southern Mississippi

2
A Fight for Freedom

• Crispus Attucks, Boston Massacre, 1770
• Virginia Governor Dunmores Proclamation, May /
  November 1775
• Jeremiahs insurrection in Charleston, June 1775
• A New England slave argues against slavery, 1776
• Prince, the slave, appeals to his master, 1777
• Shouts of Liberty!

3
George Washingtons Fears

• Called for immediate defeat of Dunmore in Va.
• Free Blacks (and many slaves) in north wanted to
  join American army
• New England states muster Blacks
• 1st Rhode Island Regiment, formed 1778
• Battle of Rhode Island at Newport, August 1778
  and other engagements
• John Laurenss scheme, 1778/79
• Washingtons own slaves

1st Rhode Island Regiment
4
The Case of James Armistead

• A slave from Virginia
• Enlisted as a spy on American side in 1781
• Provided intelligence on British movements to the
  Marquis de Lafayette
• Infiltrated Benedict Arnolds forces
• Lafayettes certificate

5
More slaves sought freedom by joining British
forces

• Allegiance to freedom
• 75,000 100,000 slaves joined British
• 5,000 in Georgia
• 25,000 in South Carolina
• 30,000 in Virginia
• Why?
• Enemies of their masters
• British promised freedom
• Dunmores Proclamation

Black Loyalist Soldier
6
Realities for escaped slaves fighting in the war

• Manual Labor
• Risk of re-enslavement
• Slaves promised as compensation for American (and
  sometimes British) service
• British failed to live up to promises

• Maroon communities
• especially in S.C.
• Battle of Yorktown, 1781
• Cornwallis orders 5,000 Blacks out of the British
  encampment due to starvation
• Some ex-slaves evacuated to Nova Scotia, Jamaica,
  Bahamas, and Sierra Leone

7
Revolutionary changes after the war?

• Major changes north of the Mason-Dixon Line
• By 1804 all northern states had adopted at least
  gradual emancipation
• Upper South
• Economic changes (away from tobacco)
• Easier manumission
• Growth of free Black population
• Virginia considers gradual abolition

• Lower South
• Economic changes (cotton)
• Growth of slavery
• Importing from the upper South and from Africa
• Harsher laws
• Initiatives by Blacks
• Name changes
• Formation of churches / schools / businesses
• Gabriel Prossers Rebellion in Virginia, 1800