T7+-+6.4B

T7 - 6.4B Kaitlyn Svoboda, Olivia Parker (African Americans Joining the War)

AFRICAN AMERICAN SLAVES MAKING HARD CHOICES

1776, Virginia- This is the story of the brave African American soldiers who risked their lives. There were 5,000 African American soldiers, led by General George Washington, who arrived from all the colonies except for South Carolina. Also, there were 800 African American slaves who were led by Lord Dunmore, who was from Virginia. The 5,000 African Americans were brought out of slavery and used as additional soldiers in battle. They battled at Lexington and Concord. The war began in 1775, when the British attacked New York at the battle of Long Island. They wanted to help the colonists against the British. They were first recruited by General George Washington. The main reason why the slaves joined the war was because they were promised freedom. The reason why this war started was because Brittan wanted more power over the colonies but the colonies wanted freedom.

The African Americans also served for the British. They were under the impression if they fought in the war they were going to get their freedom. After the war, many were sent to the Caribbean where they would remain slaves. Others who tried to escape were stopped by the British. Only a few who left to serve the British in the war got their freedom.

Before the war started, the first African slaves were brought to the English colonies where they arrived in Jamestown, Virginia in 1619. They were captured in Africa and transported across the Atlantic Ocean. It is estimated that more than ten million people were brought from Africa to America to work as slaves. All colonies had a small number of free black slaves, Maryland had a larger population of free slaves. Slavery was the most extreme form of labor, some African American were also indentured servants.

After the revolution there was an estimated 100,000 African Americans that escaped, died, or were killed in the American Revolution. Many African Americans did side with the Patriot cause. 5,000 black men served in the Continental Army and hundreds more served in the Navy. Other enslaved African Americans were brought from Britain to fight against the Americas on the side of the British. Sadly, being an African American soldier in the war did not mean you earned your freedom.

Reported by: Kaitlyn Svoboda, Olivia Parker. Tyrrell 7