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African Americans in the American Revolution

African Americans in the American Revolution. HIS 265. Slavery & the Revolution. Egalitarian rhetoric of republicanism clearly at odds with slavery Over 18,000 slaves (5% of the black population) escaped to British lines or ran away during the war Both sides used slaves as soldiers

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African Americans in the American Revolution

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  1. African Americans in the American Revolution HIS 265

  2. Slavery & the Revolution • Egalitarian rhetoric of republicanism clearly at odds with slavery • Over 18,000 slaves (5% of the black population) escaped to British lines or ran away during the war • Both sides used slaves as soldiers • Lord Dunmore (1775) & Gen. Henry Clinton (1779) offered freedom to slaves who enlisted in British army • Several states allowed slaves to serve in place of masters • New York offered freedom to slaves who served 3 years in army (& compensated owners)

  3. Black Units in the Continental Army • R.I. legislature passed bill in 1778 authorizing recruitment of blacks • Offered freedom & regular pay • Owners compensated based on value • 1st Rhode Island saw action at Battle of Rhode Island (Aug. 1778) & Yorktown (Oct. 1781) • Mass. organized Bucks of America under Samuel Middleton • 2nd Company 4th Conn. Regiment formed in Oct. 1780 • Most blacks served in integrated units Col.Christopher Greene

  4. Washington Crossing the Delaware

  5. Emancipation in the North • Northern states began to phase out slavery – ¾ free by 1810; all by 1840 • Penn. (1780), N.Y. (1799), Conn. & N.J. (1804) provided for gradual abolition – almost all free by 1840 • Mass. Supreme Court ruled slavery violated state constitution in 1781 • Slavery barred from Northwest Territory (1787)

  6. Emancipation in New York • New York Manumission Society founded in 1785 by Hamilton, Jay & Burr • Est. African Free School in 1787 • Lobbied newspapers not to run slave ads • Offered free legal counsel to blacks suing for freedom • 1785 attempt to abolish slavery failed due to controversy over voting rights issue • 1799 law provided for gradual abolition • Children born after July 4, 1799 would be free at 25 for women, 28 for men • Slaves already born remained “servants” for life • 1817 law promised freedom to all slaves born before 1799 on July 4, 1827 • Some owners sold slaves south before law took effect

  7. Abolition in Massachusetts • Mass. State Constitution (1780) declared “all men are born free & equal” with “the right of enjoying and defending their lives & liberties” • Courts ruled in Mum Bett (1781) & Quock Walker (1781-83) cases that slavery was therefore abolished Mum Bett

  8. Manumission in the South • Wave of manumission followed Revolution • Over 10% of blacks in Upper South free by 1810 • George Washington freed slaves in his will, but only after death of wife George Washington & William Lee

  9. Compromises on Slavery in the Constitution • Art. 1, Sec. 2: 3/5 of slaves counted toward representation & taxation • Art. 1, Sec. 9: Congress couldn’t ban slave trade for 20 years • Art. 4, Sec. 2: Fugitive Slave Clause required capture & return of escaped slaves • Northwest Ordinance (1787) banned slavery in Northwest Territory, but allowed it in Southwest Territory

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