African Americans Roles In The Revolutionary War History Essay

African Americans Roles In The revolutionist War History judgeAt the time of the rotatory War, the African American population in the colonies was approximately 500,000, which was about 20 percent of the total population. The history of the military roles of African Americans in the War for Independence is one that was rarely acknowledged until several decades after the war was everywhere. The documents detailing how many African American men served, whether they were excuse or slave, where they served, and what their duties were are incomplete. What research has shown is telling about the culture of the time period and especially telling about the better part of the century that followed. It is elusive to presage the number of African Americans who fought for both the Continental military and the British Royal Army. The numbers people point are a general estimate given by what was actually documented and what historians have acquired through analysis of letters, diaries, an d similar sources. African Americans participated in the War for Independence from the beginning to its conclusion, they did so in hopes that the freedoms their white counterparts would gain would also apply to them. Even though many knew that would not be the case they still fought praying that one day their efforts then would get them freedom. The right to stir was given and taken away at several points throughout the war. However, when African Americans were granted the right to fight, those willing to fight were never in short supply. Historians have estimated that at least 5,000 black soldiers fought for independence during the Revolutionary War. Among those African Americans that fought for independence would have undoubtedly been Crispus Attucks, a runaway slave alert in Massachusetts in 1770. However, years before the first shots of the Revolution were fired, on March 5, 1770, five people were shot and killed, including Crispus Attucks, at the hands of the British Royal Ar my during what became known as the Boston Massacre.Just over a month before the first shots of the war were fired, on March 5, 1775, Dr. Joseph rabbit warren spoke about the Boston Massacre and how the ideology of liberty was not only thought by whites hardly by all peopleThat individualised freedom is the natural right of every man, and that property, or exclusive right to dispose of what he has honestly acquired by his own labor, necessarily arises therefrom, are truths which commonalty sense has placed beyond the reach of contradiction. And no man, or body of men, can, without be guilty of flagrant injustice, claim a right to dispose of the persons or acquisitions of any other man or body of men, un little it can be proved that such a right has arisen from slightly compact between the parties, in which it has been explicitly and freely granted.1However, it must be noted that Dr. Joseph Warren was from Massachusetts, a hotbed for Patriots and also where only four percent of the population was African American.2Yet even off in Massachusetts the legislature agreed to reject all African Americans from enlisting when the chances of an uprising occurring were extremely slight. Connecticut and Rhode Island followed suit and agreed to reject African Americans, at least for the first years of war.3For the first part of the war, many citizens operated under the ideology of staying true to their prejudices rather than realizing the practicality of using African American soldiers. disfavour towards African Americans came from many citizens, including the Pre stancent George capital of the United States. Early on in George Washingtons life he conceptualised that white blood not only lightened the skin but educated the mind, and he preferred to employ yellow-skinned servants within his home.4Unfortunately, his beliefs mirrored that of many others in the area. Others sawing machine African Americans as savages, and as property so how could they possibly fight a long nerve actual people?5On the other side of the coin there were people who saw African Americans as humans but with the infringe at hand taking up so much energy, they did not believe that it was the time to discuss slavery which could cause fighting among the states. Regrettably, that divisive trim back only gave the British a leg up in the conflict. Even though remaining true to ones prejudices was widely practiced, it never stopped African Americans from absent to fight for the cause.African Americans fought on both sides for many of the same reasons. Freedom was the number one driving factor for the African American slave in which side they fought for, either the Continental or Royal Army. Free African Americans, at times, were recruited but many chose to enlist. African American men, free or enslaved, chose which side to fight on based on what each side offered. The side was chosen by who offered them a better life after the war in many cases.In Massachusetts, the Committ ee of Safety reported to the Provincial Congress in May 1775 that Admission of any persons but freemen as soldiers would be incongruous with principles being supported and would reflect dishonor on the addiction.6That report, however, made no mention of what they would do with free African Americans. However, when George Washington was given command of the troops around Boston, he issued orders to recruiting officers that prohibited enlistment of any Negro. In the Continental Congress in September 1775, Edward Rutledge of South Carolina demanded that Washington discharge all blacksbut failed to receive the necessary votes from other representatives.7On October 8, 1775, the Council of War convened to discuss several issues concerning the Continental Army. Those in the council include such men as Commander in Chief, George Washington, several Major-Generals Ward, Lee, and Putnam, as well as many Brigadier-Generals Thomas, Spencer, Heath, Sullivan, Green, and Gates. Among the issu es discussed was whether or not to allow African Americans to enlist or re-enlist in the Continental Army, and if they were to allow them to do so, would free men as well as slaves be allowed to enlist. The councils decision Agreed, unanimously, to reject all slaves, and, by a massive majority, to reject Negroes altogether.8However, there were both(prenominal) dissenting opinions in the council, as was the case with General Thomas. In a letter from General Thomas to John Adams, written in the same month the Council of War convened, Thomas wrote We have some negroes but I look on them, in general, as likenly serviceable with other men for sap and in action many of them have proved themselves brave.9Approximately twenty days later, George Washington issued a General Order stating Any person therefrom (Negroes excepted, which the Congress do not incline to inlist again) coming with a proper Order and will subscribe the Inlistment, shall be immediately supplied.10Again, on November 12, 1775, Washington issued another(prenominal) General Order to make sure all recruiters were aware of his previous decision. The Order stated Neither Negroes, Boys unable to bare Arms, nor old men sorry to endure the fatigues of the campaign, are to be inlisted.11Several whites in the Southern colonies held a deep opposition to African Americans (free or enslaved) enlisting in the Continental Army, because they feared the idea of them being armed. Whites in the South also feared armed African American men because of the possibility of a slave rebellion and the possibility of losing their slaves which they saw as property. The British Royal Governor, Lord Dunmore of Virginia, readily saw the weakness in the colonies of slaveholders in the South. In November 1775, he issued a proclamation statingI do, in virtue of the power and authority to me given, by his majesty, determine to execute martial law, and cause the same to be executed throughout this colony and to the end that paci fication and good order may the sooner be restored, I do require every person capable of bearing arms, to resort to his majestys standard, or be looked upon as traitors to his majestys crown and government, and thereby become liable to the penalty the law inflicts upon such offences And I do hereby further declare all bandaged servants, negroes, or others (appertaining to rebels) free, that are able and willing to bear arms, they joining his majestys troops as soon as may be, for the more speedily reducing this colony to a proper sense of their duty to his majestys crown and dignity.12Lord Dunmore promised freedom to any slave of anyone the Majesty would consider a rebel. However, similar to the colonies, allowing African Americans to enlist in the British Royal Army was not completely unanimous. Many of the free or runaway African Americans who had joined the loyalists, at least those who had not already died, were discharged from their positions.However, a month and a half after Washingtons General Order was issued and Lord Dunmores game changing proclamation was issued, Washington wrote a letter to the President of Congress, John HancockIt has been represented to me, that the free Negroes who have served in this Army, are very much dissatisfied at being discarded. As it is to be apprehended that they may seek employ in the Ministerial Army, I have presumed to depart from the Resolution respecting them and have given certify for their being enlisted, If this is disapproved by Congress I shall put a stop to it.13In September of 1776, the Continental Congress required states to come up with 88 battalions to assist the Continental Army. At that point their resources where almost completely exhausted and when the Continental Congress requested another 16 battalions, recruiting African American became a crucial necessity. The Revolutionary War set a precedent for allowing African Americans to enlist or be recruited only in times of dire need. As the war went on officers easily recognized the need to enlist African Americans, otherwise their troops would continue to dwindle and that would ultimately mean the war would be lost to the Tories. Clearly, that was not an option.African Americans, for the most part, took on the beliefs of the cause as their own. Just because the color of their skin was different did not mean they did not believe in liberty, quite the contrary in fact. Lemuel Haynes, a free African American man from New England, who was also one the minutemen at Lexington and Concord, wrote to Congress in 1776 on the matter of liberty. In his letter, Haynes writesTo affirm, that an Englishman has a right to his Liberty, is a truth which has Been so clearly Evinced, But I query, whether Liberty is so contracted a principle as to be Confind to any nation under Heaven nay, I think it not hyperbolical to affirm, that Even and affrican, has Equally as good a right to his Liberty in common with Englishmen Consequently we may suppose, t hat what is precious to one man, is precious to another, Therefore we may reasonably Conclude, that Liberty is Equally as precious to a Black man, as it is to a white one.14Haynes, like many other African American men, hoped that his faithful service to the Continental Army would prove to whites who were in disbelief that they, too, deserved the unalienable rights listed in the Declaration of Independence.15Haynes later went on to become the first African American clergymen to be officially ordained, as well as marry a white woman and have nine children.16African Americans experienced greater racial equality spell serving in the Continental navy blue than they did while serving in the army. That being the case, many African American men served in the navy during the Revolutionary War, doing so for several reasons. The ever present manpower shortages of the time, not only on land but also at sea, caused both the Continental Navy and Royal Navy to enlist African Americans into the navy. Different from the Continental Army, the Navy recruited both free and enslaved African American from the start of the war. The Navy did this mostly because they were in need of sailors, no matter what color they were. To both the enslaved and free, privately owned ships were more attractive than the Continental or state navies. For runaway slaves, there was less chance of being caught, and in general, the pay was much better than the army. However, African Americans still served in and on both because the pay was good, being roughly equal to the pay for white sailors. Not only was the pay generally equal, the majority of the Navies ships had crews that were integrated.17On ships African Americans gratefully accepted roles whites were not willing to accept. Some of their duties included cooking, cleaning, managing the ships sails, mending any damages the ship sustained in battles.18However, there were also African American sailors that served in marine units from Pennsylvania a nd Connecticut for example, and as ship pilots, mainly coming from Maryland and Virginia.19The First Rhode Island regiment Peter capital of Oregon was born into slavery however, one of his owners freed him so he could enlist in the Continental Army.20He became one of the Minutemen he fought at Concord, Bunker hill where he was credited for firing the shot that killed a British Major, Saratoga, and Stony Point. (CITE)Salem Poor who was born free, is another excellent example of bravery and willingness to fight on the part of African Americans. Salem Poor fought at Bunker Hill where he shot a British Lieutenant. It was there at Bunker Hill where Poor earned the respect of several white officers who statedThat a negro called Salem Poor, of Col. Fryes regiment, Capt. Ames company, in the late battle at Charlestown, behaved like an experienced officer, as well as an excellent soldier, to set forth particulars of his contract would be tedious, we only beg leave to say, in the person of this said negro centers a brave and gallant soldier. The reward due to so great and distinguished a character, we submit to Congress.21Without a doubt there are many other stories expressing great examples of gallantry and courage from African Americans that served in the Revolutionary War, unfortunately, the color of their skin, at the time, dictated what and how much was documented about them.Public acknowledgment for their service to the country did not come out until well over half a century after the war had concluded and while another war was in full swing. The Army and Navy Journal publish an article in September of 1863 on Negro Soldiers in the Revolution. The article statedThe record is clear, that from the beginning to the conclusion of the war of the Revolution, Negroes served in the Continental armies with intelligence, courage, and steadfastness and that important results in several instances are directly traceable to their good conduct.22For their service in the mili tary, only a few African Americans received some kind of acknowledgment. The great majority, even though serving their country with courage and bravery, stayed out of the spotlight.Without the participation of African Americans in the Revolutionary War, especially on the side of the Patriots, the outcome may have been drastically different. African American soldiers of the Revolution served with the same bravery and courage as their white brothers. They served that way even subtile that they might not be able to enjoy the freedoms over which the war was fought.