How Did African Americans Contribute To The Revolutionary War

The Battles of Lexington and Concord (April 19, 1775) started the 7-year struggle also known as the Revolutionary War. The War was fought between Great Britain and their 13 American Colonies over the British governments overimposing taxes. The 13 colonies ended up winning the War and officially became the United States of America. However, the 13 colonies didn’t achieve this feat alone. While usually only white men from the colonies are depicted as the main heroes of the war the unsung heroes are the African Americans and women of America. Both African Americans and women helped to further the American Revolution’s cause with their contributions. Both fought in the war and in certain cases had to lie in order to serve, however, their motives

African Americans though not always being depicted alongside traditional Revolutionary War heroes did have a lasting impact on the war. Although they were treated as lesser beings by most of the American public they still fought courageously against the British. An example of this shown in The Revolution’s Black Soldiers by Robert Selig where the author states, “The Militia Act of the summer of 1775 had required that “all free male persons, hired servants, and apprentices between the ages of 16 and 50 years … be enrolled or forced into companies.” This excluded slaves by definition, but free blacks were registered, though “without arms.” … Many a runaway told the nearest recruiter that he was a freeman, anxious to fight”(Doc 5) The document explores the discriminations African Americans faced if they wanted to contribute to the war effort. By registering them as “without arms” they are supposed to fend for themselves and could seriously get hurt in the process. Yet this did not discourage African Americans as many who joined were in fact slaves and as stated above lied and said they were free. There weren’t too many questions asked since “...the army was short of men.”(Doc 5) Women also had a low status in society as well. The expectation for a woman was to be married and take care of the house and children. However, when the war came an

When the War began and many people were branding it as a war for freedom many African American saw this as a chance to fight for their actual freedom.A prime example was in Portraits in Revolution: American Roots by American Meaning which states, “Blacks, who understood the literal meaning of patriot rhetoric, eagerly took up the cause of American freedom, fighting bravely in the early confrontations with the British….” (Doc 6) This excerpt clearly depicts the intentions behind many African Americans involvement in the War. They understood that the objective of this war was to get freedom. After suffering under a oppressive system for the last century in the colonies many Africans Americans were ready for change and were ready to fight for it. Contrarily women fought for the definition of freedom that was determined by their husbands and the rest of the white males in America. They fought for the freedom that would be only conditional to white men and mostly they fought because they need to follow their husbands example. An instance of this is the Edenton Ladies' Agreement published on the Morning Chronicle and London Advertiser which state, “I send it to you to show your fair