F76.4A


 * Boston Gazette**
 * African Americans; a Great Decision**
 * Boston, Massachusetts**
 * June 3, 1775**

The African Americans are in a battle themselves. It could be considered a battle of liberty or not, only because they are in the middle of something: the Revolutionary War. Thus, it matters which side they choose. If they choose the Patriot cause, they risk being captured by the British, then re-sold as a slave or are forced to join the loyalist cause. If they do join the loyalist cause, they risk being tarred and feathered, or being hung. The British, however, give the reward of freedom to those who join their cause. But it is a matter of whether or not the British can be trusted to keep their promise.

John Murray of Virginia, also known as the Earl of Dunmore, was a prior royal governor of Virginia. Early on, he gave a proclamation allowing able-bodied Africans to serve for the crown, and in return, the men who joined successfully were to be given freedom at the end of the war. He made many field workers into soldiers."Between two to three hundred [runaways] have already come in and these I form into a Corps as fast as they come … “ General George Washington, head of the patriotic rebellion, had not allowed the Africans to join the patriotic cause as of the July of 1775. They were not allowed to serve because General George Washington and the Continental Army had doubted their loyalty."Let us therefore animate and encourage each other, and show the whole world that a Freeman, contending for liberty on his own ground, is superior to any slavish mercenary on earth."

In December the continental congress allowed free African Americans to fight in the war as long as they have had prior military experience such as being in the Militia and/or as Minutemen. This is because on November 7 1776, Lord Dunmore, of Virginia gave a proclamation promising freedom to any Africans who would fight for the crown. The proclamation (by Lord Dunmore) "And I hereby further declare all indented servants, Negros, or others (appertaining to rebels) free, that are able and willing to bear arms, they joining his majesty, troops, as soon may be, for the more speedily reducing the colony to a proper sense of their duty, to his majesty's crown and dignity."

After the years of working in the fields under the watchful eye of the colonist slave owners, the African Americans are now faced with a big decision. With the Revolutionary War going on, the colonists need troops if they want to maintain their rights. With more than half a million Africans (free and enslaved) in the colonies, they could help in our forces. However, the Continental Congress was not allowing the Africans the opportunity to enlist because they doubted their loyalty. But, when the British started to bribe the Africans into joining their militia in trade for freedom, General George Washington allowed the Africans to join. The new and current rule is that any free African can enlist. This creates a difficult choice for Africans. They can either join the patriots and risk being captured and re-sold by the British, or they can join the British and risk being hung for treason by the patriots. Most Africans really only want freedom, they have been taking up whichever side will give them just that. This is leading to many run away slaves who are seeking the British militia and freedom. Right now, there are more African Americans on in the British troops than in the Patriot troops, making the Britain a much stronger opponent.

After being accepted into the Patriot and British militia, many of the African American slaves have begun to fight in the major battles in American history. They have fought in the Battle of Lexington and Concord. Now, they have come into an even larger war, the Revolutionary War. The have been fighting for our freedom as well as the Patriots throughout the years. African Americans are fighting in many positions during these wars, but have still not been able to achieve Colonel. Africans are fighting on both the American Patriot side and the British side in the Revolutionary war.

Hopefully the patriot cause will boost after General George Washington's new decision on allowing Africans to join the fight for freedom. Since, their voices ring the loudest at it. But, because of Lord Dunmore's proclamation, many slaves are running away and many able bodied Africans to join the British cause. Therefore, giving them more military members support. Due to the slaves running away many southern colonists, whether they are patriot, neutral, or loyalist, many of them are getting upset about the war. Many slaves just want freedom, so they run away either to achieve it by being on either cause. The neutrals do not like this because many of their own slaves are running off and joining either the loyalist cause or the patriotic cause.

Unfortunately, due to General Washington's late decision to allow Africans to join the war, many might not fight for the patriot cause. Even so, they are caught between two sides.If they do join the patriot side, they risk being captured by the British and re-sold as slaves. If they would join the Loyalist cause, they risk being tarred and feathered for treason by the patriots.But, no matter what side they are on, they do risk being captured. This is important because many slave owners are going to loose their slaves in a fight for freedom. All able-bodied African men are able to join either sides of the war now. Will this make things better? Or will it get worse?

Reported By: Ian Bhera (ph. 2 and ph.3), Megan MacIntyre (ph 4 and ph 5), and Michaela (ph. 6 and ph.7)