African Americans in the War for Independence Essay

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Black Soldier During the American War for Independence

Many Americans today are aware of the military service of blacks during the First and Second World Wars, and some are even aware of the major contributions of these troops to the Union's victory in the Civil War. Far fewer modern Americans, though, are aware of the contribution of black soldiers during America's War for Independence. In fact, by war's end in 1783, fully five thousand black soldiers would serve in the military for a country that otherwise held them and their compatriots in slavery and contempt. This paper reviews the literature to determine the role of the black soldier during the American War for Independence, followed by a summary of the research and important findings concerning their role in the conclusion.

Review and Discussion

Although they were at a clear disadvantage economically, politically and socially, many black men recognized the need for their service during the American War for Independence out of a sense of patriotism to their fledgling nation and took up arms against the British. For instance, the editors of The New Crisis report that, "Once the colonies decided to rebel against the oppressive rule of England, many black men joined the militia.

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They appeared in the handsome uniform of the Colonial forces and their names were officially entered on the muster roles" (African-American Patriots of the Revolutionary War 24).

The fact that thousands of black soldiers felt compelled to serve during the American War for Independence was all the more remarkable given the prevailing views about African-Americans during this period in American history and the fact that they were prohibited from serving in the military for the first few years of the war. For instance, according to Loewen, "Certainly most white Americans in the 1770s were racist" (141). The service by black soldiers during the Revolutionary War, though, helped to change the prevailing views about African-Americans in the minds of some Americans. In this regard, Loewen adds that, "Race relations were in flux, however, due to the Revolutionary War and to its underlying ideology about the rights of mankind that Jefferson, among others, did so much to spread" (141).

Notwithstanding their marginalized condition in mainstream American society, about one in twenty of the troops that served during the Revolutionary War were black and it is likely that their numbers would have been even higher had the U.S.….....

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