Question

Explain why free and enslaved African Americans fought for and against the Patriots

Answer 1

Answer:

During the Revolutionary war there were both Black Loyalists and Black Patriots. The aims of each group however were similar in that both the Black Patriots and the Black Loyalists were generally interested in securing their freedom after the war.

Explanation:

The Black Loyalist: Compared to many Western powers at the time, England was one of the first countries to have a strong abolitionist movement and there were societies that wrote hundreds of petitions in London and elsewhere in England who were looking to put an end to the slave trade and to disallow it legally. This was one of the points of contention with the colonists in the United States, especially those in the Southern states that became dependent on slave labor from Africa to help make the plantations productive. Therefore it makes sense that some Black Americans felt that fighting for the English might be the best option for securing their freedom or maintaining their free status. Indeed, there was an official offer of freedom for service on the part of the English government during the war.

The Black Patriots: Likewise, some Black Americans were convinced that fighting on behalf of the Patriots would assure their personal freedom because to them it looked likely that England would lose the war. There are said to have been close to 5000 African American Patriot soldiers in the Continental Army. One of the most famous martyrs is Crispus Attucks who died at the hands of the British during the Boston Massacre in 1770.