BrainStuff Who Were the Black Loyalists of the American Revolution?
Feb 8, 2021
Explore the fascinating story of the Black Loyalists who fought for Britain during the American Revolution. Discover how Lord Dunmore's proclamation promised freedom to enslaved individuals and led to the formation of the Ethiopian Regiment. Uncover the challenges faced by these loyalists in Nova Scotia, from racial discrimination to poverty. Hear about their courageous petitions for land and the eventual choice to move to Sierra Leone. The legacy of Black Loyalists continues to resonate in today's society, providing a poignant reminder of their rich history.
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Slavery Was Central To Colonial Demographics
- A large portion of the colonial population were enslaved people, concentrated most heavily in Southern states.
- This demographic shaped the stakes of the Revolution and made emancipation offers strategically powerful.
Emancipation Used As Wartime Strategy
- British officials issued emancipation offers like Lord Dunmore's to recruit enslaved people as a wartime strategy.
- These proclamations combined military needs with promises of freedom, creating a mass movement toward British lines.
Freedom Offers Aimed To Weaken Rebels
- The Phillipsburg Proclamation extended freedom to any enslaved person who fled to British lines, not just fighters.
- British policy aimed to damage the rebel economy by encouraging mass escapes from plantations.