Thousands of African American’s played a huge role during the War of Independence. In the end, some were freed and others lost their lives. These African American’s refused to sit down and do nothing during the war. However, after it was over, many people forgot to recognize them for what they did for our country and how they helped win our freedom. This made me very sad when I found this out. In the late 1700’s, the discussion of liberty was being spread throughout the country, which gave thousands of slaves high hopes for the possibility for freedom. As indicated in Document 5, runaway slaves would find the nearest recruiter and lie to them saying he was free and ready to fight in the war. In 1775, there were many black soldiers; some were slaves who battled the British. Salam Poor and Peter Salem were two of these soldiers who fought against the British. These two men were set apart from the others
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They told the slave owners that the benefit to them would be so if their son’s were drafted the slaves would be used as a substitute for their sons enlistment in the army. Most agreed to this because they were compensated. As described in Document 5, numerous African American Virginians battled at Valley Forge, many died by starvation or from the cold. Around 1778, as mentioned in Document 5, the black Virginians that survived were marching alongside the whites. At that time, The Rhode Island’s Black Battalion was created, because the state didn’t have enough white soldiers to fight in the Continental Army. Most southern states did not allow the recruitment of African Americans as soldiers, however, did not object to using enslaved blacks and free slaves as pilots, sailors, and gunners. About 150 black men in Virginia served in the Navy. When the war was over these men were given their freedom as a
They told the slave owners that the benefit to them would be so if their son’s were drafted the slaves would be used as a substitute for their sons enlistment in the army. Most agreed to this because they were compensated. As described in Document 5, numerous African American Virginians battled at Valley Forge, many died by starvation or from the cold. Around 1778, as mentioned in Document 5, the black Virginians that survived were marching alongside the whites. At that time, The Rhode Island’s Black Battalion was created, because the state didn’t have enough white soldiers to fight in the Continental Army. Most southern states did not allow the recruitment of African Americans as soldiers, however, did not object to using enslaved blacks and free slaves as pilots, sailors, and gunners. About 150 black men in Virginia served in the Navy. When the war was over these men were given their freedom as a