1 African Americans in the revolution “realizing that loyalty was not to a place or a person, but to a principle"

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

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

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

5 Crispus Attucks grave

6 Crispus Attucks Boston Massacre

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

8 Salem Poor - Bunker Hill

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

18 Aftermath of the War for African Americans  On July 21, 1782 as the final British ship left Savannah, more than 5,000 African Americans left for Jamaica or St. Augustine. Because they were the property of Loyalists they never gained their freedom from slavery. About 300 blacks in Savannah did not evacuate, fearing that they would be re-enslaved and established a colony in the swamps of the Savannah River. In 1786, many were back in bondage. The evacuation of Charleston in December 1782 saw the departure of more than 5,000 blacks. Over half were slaves still belonging to Loyalists and went to the West Indies. Another 500 slaves went to east Florida. 1782JamaicaSt. AugustineSavannah River1786east Florida1782JamaicaSt. AugustineSavannah River1786east Florida

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

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

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