The Negro in the American Revolution Essays

The American Revolution resonated with all classes of society, as it stood to divide a nation’s loyalties and recreate the existing fabric of society. During the 1770s to mid 1780s, no group living in the British American colonies was left unaffected. For blacks enslaved in America, the war presented the fleeting possibility of freedom in a nation that was still dependent on an economic structure of oppression and bondage. For those blacks that were free, they chose their alliances wisely in hopes of gaining economic opportunities and improving their status in the American colonies. The American Negroes, whether free or enslaved, could be found on either side of the battlefront. They took on many different roles, some fighting on the

Throughout American history, African Americans haven’t had too much say in whether or not they belonged in the United States or not. Slavery without a doubt had a great impact upon their decisions. However, despite their troubles, African Americans have paid their dues and have made an impact on our armed forces since the Revolutionary War. African Americans have fought to preserve the rights for Americans, as well as having to fight the war within their very own country to gain the right to fight for their country and their individual freedom.

They said that though blacks should not be enslaved, they should not be equal to the white male. The army was extremely reluctant to commission black officers -- only one hundred gained commissions during the war. For example, Colonel Shaw was white. African American soldiers were also given less supplies and rations. In addition, they received inferior ammunition and weapons and absolutely no medical treatment on or off the battlefield. For example, the soldiers were not given shoes when they asked for them, until Colonel Shaw demanded them for his men. This greatly affected their ability to fight. With less to keep them warm or defend themselves, you are going to have more casualties. Black soldiers served in artillery and infantry and performed all noncombat support functions that sustain an army, digging trenches, hauling supplies, cooking food, tending to the wounded, and providing personal service.

Slavery was a complicated issue for Northern whites. As pointed out by historian Kevin M. Schultz (2011), Northerners were generally in agreement that slavery was wrong, yet they were very uneasy with the idea of creating a large, free black population in the U.S. The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 was a step toward that idea. The Proclamation did not free all slaves, since the border states of Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland and Delaware were exempted, as were Tennessee and areas of Virginia and Louisiana already under Union occupation (Schultz, 2011, p. 265). An important provision, however, was that black Americans would now be allowed to join the military. In the two years following the Emancipation Proclamation, 180,000 black men enlisted (Schultz, p. 265). They were poorly treated but eager to fight for a cause in which they had a high stake. Their numbers and their passion for the cause made African-American soldiers a powerful asset to the Union.

The Civil War was one of America’s most brutal battles in history. Majority of which being white, male soldiers. Over the years, many historians have argued the actual involvement of blacks during the civil war era. Many claiming that they were doing nothing more than assisting the actual, white soldiers in combat such as, nurses, and wagon drivers, not actually picking up the gun and shooting alongside in battle. Most people look over the fact that almost ten percent, or 180,000, of the Union army were African American. Though a small fraction of the amount of total soldiers during the war, their involvement is still significant. These soldiers recruited and voluntarily, committing the same acts of bravery of any Caucasian solider, due to the prejudice against them, they were pushed to the back burner and treated with disrespect, virtually diminishing their extensive courageous acts. Nevertheless these soldiers made an impact in world changing war.

As war spread across Europe in 1914-1918, black Americans saw a second opportunity in which they could use the war to their advantage, in securing the respect of their white neighbours. This contemporary conflict brought about great controversy within the black community, being asked to fight for a democracy on behalf of a country in which they did not receive equal treatment. Many activists did support the war effort, including DuBois announcing ‘while the war lasts [blacks] must forget [their] special grievances … fight shoulder to shoulder with white fellow citizens… For democracy’ (Heinze, 2003). Paradoxically, when it came to the drafting of the volunteers, blacks came under a total polarization of customary discriminatory practice. Blacks were instructed to tear corners of their registry cards, thus becoming easily identified, to be inducted separately to white volunteers. (Murray, 1971). Now, under usual circumstances, the Black citizens would be turned away, the war office began doing all they could within their power to bring them into service, and surprisingly, this was most common among the Southern boards, demonstrated by the Confederate army during the civil war. The army established a more progressive attitude toward race relations than mainland America, by the end of 1917, African Americans served in cavalry, infantry, medical and engineer positions. The war allowed for the black Americans to begin asserting their citizenship, protesting racial injustice on

Contributions African-American soldiers made towards the Union cause was enrolling as cooks, stewards, and fireman, and some serving in the war. Risks and hardships African-American soldiers experienced were being captured and put to death as slaves in revolt, and forced into labor battalions. In the south slaves could enlist in the war for the fear of revolt.

During the Revolution, the British viewed the African American’s in the South as numbers to add to their side of the war and also as a group of individuals to manipulate in warfare (Nash et al., 2008). On the other hand, the American’s viewed the slaves as vulnerable and dangerous. With so much speak of liberty and freedom during the revolution, the African American’s began to petition against the lives they were living as slaves and fought to have their own liberties.

The Northern and Southern armies had very different views of African Americans military service in the Civil War. One way that we know this is by looking at two recruitment posters.

About 180,000 African American people comprised 163 units that served in the Union Army, during the time of the Civil War, and many more African American people had served in the Union Navy. Both the free African-Americans and the runaway slaves had joined the fight. On the date of July 17, in the year of 1862, the U. S. Congress had passed two very important acts that would allow the enlistment of many African Americans, but the official enrollment had occurred only after the September, 1862, issuance of the, Emancipation Proclamation. In general, most white soldiers and officers, had believed that most of the black men, who had served in the Civil War, lacked the courage, and the will to fight

The concept of using slaves as soldiers was hardly revolutionary. Blacks had served our country with honor and bravery since the country's earliest days. Not only did the black

The african american slaves going to the army was a good idea because it changed the war the african americans wanted to fight and become free their freedom is worth the fight they said if it wasn’t for the war they wouldn’t be able to be free they fought the most amazing fight they could. They lead the battle of fort wagner and became famous for what they did they fought with all their hearts they all became free after they fought that war no one survived that war from the 54th regiment with that being said they would have a place in every man and womans heart to this day they keep on going. Before the battle of fort wagner the 54th regiment had to clean up everyone's mess even though they had to do that is because no one believed in them

African Americans served honorably in every military conflict from the Revolutionary to the Civil War, but usually as volunteers and not as US Army regulars. After the Civil War, Congress authorized the reorganization of the US Army. This included six segregated regiments of “colored troops” to be led by white officers.

The black slaves played an important part of the war. Most black people did not help americans only 10 to 15 black soldiers and some slaves actually helped fight the british soldiers these men well the ones who lived got rewarded for their loyalty.

The conquest of the American Revolution has a rather dynamic history of struggle between two nations, one nation wanting economic power, and the other nation wanting economic independence. This rebellion caused an uproar of all seekers of independence to form an alliance against Britain. Liberty was deemed as the most motivational principle that it redefined the Revolution in its entirety. So much so that enslaved African Americans wanted to fight for the same principle; however, for them--this was not only a fight for American Independence but also, a fight for freedom from their own shackles. Chapter five of the textbook From Slavery to Freedom, “Give Me Liberty,” John Hope Franklin expressed the major impact of African Americans surrounding the Revolutionary War. According to John Hope Franklin, America as a nation was not only founded upon an anti-tax rebuttal but also accrediting racism as a major driving force of the American Revolution.