African Americans Role In The American Revolution

Role of African Americans in the American Revolution African Americans played an important role in the American Revolution. They fought for the British in hopes of being free from their owners, they fought for the Americans because they believed in the American cause and the fight for freedom. They were fighting for their beliefs. During the American Revolution, the biggest motivation to win the war, for African Americans was gaining their freedom. Many African Americans, free and enslaved wished to join the fight for freedom. They believed that by doing this they would gain freedom or be allowed to have more rights. During the beginning of the American Revolution, the British army feared that armed African Americans would begin to rebel. The British tried to lessen the anger of the Southern farmers by using African Americans as laborers,

The Patriot forces were worried that slaves who were armed would rise against them. Slave owners also became concerned that the military would eventually free their slaves. In May 1775, the Massachusetts Committee of Safety, enrolled slaves in the armies of the colony. This action was used by the Continental Congress when they took over the Continental army. When Patriot forces found out about Lord Dumore's proclamation it stirred up some fear among Patriot forces. In December 1775, Washington wrote a letter to Colonel Henry Lee III stating that success in the war would come to whatever side could arm the blacks the fastest. Washington ordered the military recruiters to reenlist the free African Americans who had already served in the Patriot forces. Patriots in South Carolina and Georgia resisted enlisting slaves as armed soldiers. African Americans from the north were used to fight in southern battles. African American were allowed to fight and could sacrifice their live for their country but weren't truly allowed to have