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[[File:Black loyalist copley.jpg|left|thumbnail|A Black Loyalist in John Singleton Copley's Death Military service has been traditionally offered as a demonstration of Major Pierson (1782)]]During both patriotism and the nineteenth century, freed enslaved Africans in North designated March 5th a holiday obligation to commemorate return such favors with the sacrifice benefits of Crispus Attuckscitizenship. Attucks, who worked as a sailor, had been Although the first person killed in abolitionists were right to affirm the long conflict over the question sacrifices of a veritable segment of colonial independence during what has become known as the Boston Massacre in 1770. In the NorthAfrican American community, among abolitionists his life demonstrated how intertwined Black lives were with more people of African descent actually fought on the founding side of the American republicBritish army. They added evidence It is likely for this reason that many of Attucks’s sacrifice as well as the sacrifice subsequent episodes of over 5,000 free and enslaved Africans people’s repression came to the ledger fruition. Unlike other “Loyalists,” a sizable segment of proof of African America’s loyalty and as a rationale those who fought for the ending of the system of enslavement. <ref> John ErnestBritish, ''Liberation Historiography: African American Writers and most importantly their descendants, remained to incur the Challenge wrath of History, 1794-1861'' (Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 2004), 141the victorious American rebels.</ref>

Military service has been traditionally offered as a demonstration of patriotism and ====The History of British Abolitionism==== It is useful to begin to understand the obligation to return such favors with context by briefly reviewing the benefits history of citizenshipBritish abolitionism. Although The moral fervor around the brutality and horrors of the Middle Passage led to a movement by abolitionists were right in the eighteenth century to affirm outlaw the sacrifices of a veritable segment of the African American communityAtlantic Slave Trade. These exposés were based upon both religious and economic arguments, more people but perhaps most of African descent actually fought on the side all they were part of the British armya liberal natural rights logic that asserted humans were born with certain inalienable rights. It is likely for this reason that many of Enslavement, inasmuch as it was crystallized by the subsequent episodes treatment of enslaved people’s repression came to fruition. Unlike other “Loyalistshuman beings as property,” was a sizable segment negation of this very logic. As the contradictions sharpened, those who fought for had invested much political and economic capital into the British, and most importantly system began to withdraw their descendants, remained to incur the wrath of the victorious American rebelssupport at varying levels.

[[File:Mansfield|left|thumbnail|Lord Mansfield]]===This was the context that gave rise to ''Somerset v. Stewart'The History of British Abolitionism'''=== It is useful , where an enslaved African that had been transported to begin to understand this context the English mainland had sued for his freedom based on English common law. Lord Mansfield, the judge who decided the case, had been influenced by briefly reviewing the history arguments of British abolitionism. The moral fervor around the brutality abolitionists and horrors of eventually awarded the Middle Passage led freedom to a movement by abolitionists in the eighteenth century plaintiff, James Somerset. This decision sent shockwaves throughout the British Empire—especially the American colonies. But it signaled to outlaw the Atlantic Slave Trade. These exposes were based upon both religious and economic arguments, but perhaps most of all they were part of a liberal natural rights logic enslaved that asserted humans were born with certain inalienable rights. Enslavement, inasmuch the British could serve as it was crystallized by a vehicle to remove the treatment thumb of human beings as propertytheir enslavers, was an incursion of this very logicmuch like the Spanish had done during the eighteenth century. As the contradictions sharpened<ref> Cedric Robinson, ''Black Movements in America'' (New York: Routledge, 1997), 14-29; Gerald Horne, those who had invested much political ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1479806897/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1479806897&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=33df1e3a0cca71760d2d526032a6f4f6 The Counterrevolution of 1776: Slave Resistance and economic capital into the system began to withdraw their support at varying levelsOrigins of the United States]'' (New York: New York University Press, 2014), 209-19. </ref>

'This was the context that gave rise to ====The Impact of Somerset v====[[File:Mansfield. Stewart, where an enslaved African that had been transported jpg|left|thumbnail|200px|Lord Mansfield]]According to historian Gerald Horne who has continued the English mainland had sued for his freedom based on English common law. Lord Mansfieldarduous process of rewriting this history, Somerset signaled to the judge who decided colonists that the case, had been influenced by British may not provide the arguments same level of support to the abolitionists, institution of enslavement and eventually awarded freedom to the plaintiff, James Somersetwestward territorial expansion. This decision sent shockwaves throughout The Seven Years War was the British Empire—especially opening salvo in the American coloniesconflict that dealt prominently with these two concerns. But Not only was it signaled to the enslaved ominous that it appeared that the British could serve as would push a vehicle to remove proto-abolitionist policy where the thumb of their enslaversenslaved were concerned, much like the Spanish but there were also concerns that they might be eventually be armed as had been done during the eighteenth century. <ref> Cedric Robinson, ''Black Movements in America'' (New York: Routledge, 1997), 14-29; Gerald Horne, ''The Counterrevolution of 1776: Slave Resistance and the Origins other parts of the United States'' (New York: New York University Press, 2014), 209-19empire. </ref>

==='''The Impact of ''Somerset'''''=== According to historian Gerald Horne who has continued the arduous process of rewriting this history, Somerset signaled to the colonists that the British may not provide the same level of support to the institution of enslavement and westward territorial expansion. The Seven Years War was the opening salvo in the conflict that dealt prominently with these two concerns. Not only was it ominous that it appeared that the British would push a proto-abolitionist policy where the enslaved were concerned, there were also concerns that they might be eventually be armed as had been done in other parts of the empire. These rumblings would impact the ways that the colonists articulated their grievances with Great Britain. As Horne points out, they had been increasingly attracted to the North American mainland because of its relative security from the kinds of revolts that had been taking place in the Caribbean throughout the eighteenth century. The rumors from Britain were thus a step too far. <ref> Horne, ''The Counterrevolution of 1776'', 161-208. </ref> ==='''Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation'''=== Virginia was ground zero for much of the political debates and decisions regarding the colonies. It was here where much of the political systems that would define America would be created. By 1775, as the colonists began to fear the incursions of the British, revolutionary sensibilities had already emerged there. It seemed imminent that a more thoroughgoing conflict was on the horizon as militias began to form. It is important to note that this revolutionary fervor was not universal. There was a large swath of colonists who remained loyal to the union. These Loyalists sought to ensure the continuity of British rule, as many of them were direct beneficiaries of their control.

To fortify British rule, ====Lord Dunmore, Dunmore’s Proclamation====Virginia was ground zero for much of the political debates and decisions regarding the colonies. It was here where much of the governor Virginia, decided upon a shrewd tacticpolitical systems that would define America would be created. By this period1775, Virginia had erected a one as the colonists began to fear the incursions of the largest slave economies in the AmericasBritish, with forty percent of its population made up of bondsmenrevolutionary sensibilities had already emerged there. As It seemed imminent that a result it had experienced sporadic revolts and varying levels of marronagemore thoroughgoing conflict was on the horizon as militias began to form. <ref> Robinson, ''Black Movements in America'', 1-14It is important to note that this revolutionary fervor was not universal. </ref> Seizing upon this opportunity had facing the risings of There was a veritable militia large swath of patriots, Dunmore declared in November of 1775, that all colonists who did not pledge loyalty remained loyal to the union. These Loyalists sought to ensure the crown would be declared traitors and that enslaved Africans would be given freedom in exchange for military servicecontinuity of British rule, as many of them were direct beneficiaries of their control.

The “Ethiopian Regiment” was then mustered having ramifications far beyond To fortify British rule, Lord Dunmore, the governor of Virginia, decided upon a shrewd tactic. By this proclamation. Many Black loyalist regimes were created following period, Virginia had erected one of the largest slave economies in the 1779 Phillipsburg ProclamationAmericas, issued by Sir Henry Clintonwith forty percent of its population made up of bondsmen. As a result, which was more wide-ranging than Dunmore’s edict as it covered all had experienced sporadic revolts and varying levels of the coloniesmarronage. <ref> HorneRobinson, The Counterrevolution of 1776''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415912229/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0415912229&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=0aa7f400d246fc098efe80c7e7833f82 Black Movements in America]'', 2191-5214. </ref>Seizing upon this opportunity and facing the risings of a veritable militia of patriots, Dunmore declared in November of 1775, that all who did not pledge loyalty to the crown would be declared traitors and that enslaved Africans would be given freedom in exchange for military service.

==='''The Impact “Ethiopian Regiment” was then mustered, having ramifications far beyond this proclamation. Many Black loyalist regimes were created following the 1779 Phillipsburg Proclamation, issued by Sir Henry Clinton, which was more wide-ranging than Dunmore’s edict as it covered all of African American Military Service'''===the colonies. <ref> Horne, The Counterrevolution of 1776, 219-52. </ref>

====The Impact of African American Military Service====[[File:Proclamation.jpg|left| thumbnail|Lord Dunmore's Proclamation (1775)]]It is believed that some 6,500 enslaved Africans decided that it was in their best interest to fight on behalf of the British. Dunmore’s proclamation had reverberations throughout the colonies. It made freedom almost immediately accessible to enslaved Africans that had resisted in many ways prior to the Revolutionary War, but now found the road somewhat easier as a result of the new British policy. Many of those that fought directly undermined the slave economies of the south by leaving and joining the Redcoats. Others decided it was expedient to choose neither side. Some estimated that the Revolutionary War led to over 30,000 runaways in Virginia alone. Overall, about 100,000 enslaved Africans emancipated themselves during this period. <ref> Robinson, ''Black Movements in America'', 23-24; Gerald Horne, ''Negro Comrades of the Crown: African Americans and the British Empire Fight the U.S. before Before Emancipation'' (New York: New York University Press, 2012), 17; Alan Gilbert, ''Black Patriots and Loyalists: Fighting for Emancipation in the War for Independence'' (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2012), 121-28. </ref>

==='''The Declaration of Independence'''=== The impact even found it’s way into the founding document of the Revolution, Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence. The history of this document demonstrates, of course, that Jefferson was one of a few authors. However, Jefferson as a Virginian slaveholder, had a specific axe to grind. In a much<dh-heralded statement, Jefferson wrote, ad/>

“He has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating ====The Declaration of Independence====The impact even found its most sacred rights of life and liberty in way into the persons founding document of a distant people who never offended him, captivating & carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere or to incur miserable death in their transportation thither. This piratical warfare, the opprobrium of infidel powersRevolution, is the warfare Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of the Christian King Independence. The history of Great Britain. Determined to keep open a market where Men should be bought & soldthis document demonstrates, he has prostituted his negative for suppressing every legislative attempt to prohibit or restrain this execrable commerce. And that this assemblage of horrors might want no fact of distinguished die, he is now exciting those very people to rise in arms among uscourse, and to purchase that liberty of which he has deprived them, by murdering the people on whom he has obtruded them: thus paying off former crimes committed again the Liberties of Jefferson was one people, with crimes which he urges them to commit against the lives of anothera few authors.” <ref> Blackpast.orgHowever, “The Deleted Passage of the Declaration of IndependenceJefferson as a Virginian slaveholder had a specific ax to grind.” http://www.blackpast.org/primary/declarationIn a much-independence-and-debate-over-slavery </ref>heralded statement, Jefferson wrote,

Almost none of this passage, however, made it into the final document. The problem was that it could be construed as pro-abolitionist which would have rankled those who saw the “He has waged cruel war as pro-slavery. Even if we consider it to be pro-abolitionistagainst human nature itself, violating its most sacred rights of life and liberty in the irony is that it came from the pen persons of a slaveholder distant people who emphasized both the question of natural rights and the idea that the greatest grievance was the impact that arming the enslaved would havenever offended him, captivating & carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere or to incur miserable death in their transportation thither. In fact This piratical warfare, this animosity toward King George over the “excitement” opprobrium of enslaved Africans infidel powers, is the portion warfare of this passage that remained in the final document: “He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us.” <ref> http://www.ushistoryChristian King of Great Britain.org/declaration/document/ </ref>

==='''The Fate Determined to keep open a market where Men should be bought & sold, he has prostituted his negative for suppressing every legislative attempt to prohibit or restrain this execrable commerce. And that this assemblage of horrors might want no fact of distinguished die, he is now exciting those very people to rise in arms among us, and to purchase that liberty of which he has deprived them, by murdering the Black Loyalists'''=== people on whom he has obtruded them: thus paying off former crimes committed again the Liberties of one people, with crimes which he urges them to commit against the lives of another.” <ref> Blackpast.org, “The Deleted Passage of the Declaration of Independence.” http://www.blackpast.org/primary/declaration-independence-and-debate-over-slavery </ref>

Carleton’s now -famous “Book of Negroes”—which was made into a historical novel and television miniseries—recorded the names of those who he, working on behalf of the crown, would endeavor to fulfill the promises embedded in the Dunmore and Phillipsburg proclamations. There they In Nova Scotia, emancipated Africans lived a relatively harsh life as Canada provided an unforgiving climate. Others would later find their way to Africa and helped help settle Sierra Leone, thought to be a haven for Africans who were seized by the British patrols that were intending to enforce the ban of the Atlantic Slave Trade.  Their lives under the Crown were only an improvement for the simple reason that they were not enslaved. It is , however, folly, to believe that things were easy. One of the complicated realities of this and subsequent periods is that emancipation, while lessening the pain of chattel enslavement, did not eradicate the larger problems at the heart of Black existence in the modern world. <ref> Gilbert, ''Black Patriots and Loyalists'', 207-42.</ref> Others stayed in the new country and found themselves subject to a deepening and more vicious enslavement than that which had existed before. Among those that were re-enslaved (though many were not), an important group became maroons utilizing their military skills to wage war against the new country in South Carolina and Georgia in the years leading up to the nineteenth century. This group called themselves, the “King of England’s Soldiers.” <ref> Sylviane Diouf, ''Slavery’s Exiles: The Story of the American Maroons'' (New York: New York University Press, 2014), 165.</ref> ====Conclusion====In conclusion, let us briefly note the inspirations of the enslaved. While the freed Africans discussed above were inspired to demonstrate their fitness for citizenship, it is critical to emphasize that the enslaved Africans who fought for the British were not similarly concerned with demonstrating loyalty. As such, the term “Black Loyalist,” which has come to define these soldiers is somewhat of a misnomer. As a historian, James W. St. G. Walker indicates, it is likely that these soldiers “were less Pro-British than they were Pro-Black.” <ref> James W. St. G. Walker, “Blacks as American Loyalists: The Slaves' War for Independence,” Historical Reflections / Réflexions Historiques 2 (Summer/été 1975): 53. </ref> This framing helps to explain why Black soldiers would again fight on the side of the Redcoats, and perhaps may be used to help frame Black participation in American military conflict up to the Vietnam conflict. <div class="portal" style='float:left; width:35%'>====Related Articles===={{#dpl:category=Colonial American History|ordermethod=firstedit|order=descending|count=8}}</div> ===References===<references/>

Others stayed in the new country and found themselves subject to a deepening and more vicious enslavement than that which had existed before. Among those that were re-enslaved, an important group became maroons utilizing their military skills to wage war against the new country in South Carolina and Georgia in the years leading up to the nineteenth century. This group called themselves, the “King of England’s Soldiers.” <ref> Sylviane Diouf, ''Slavery’s Exiles[[Category: The Story of the Wikis]][[Category:United States History]] [[Category:Military History]][[Category:American Revolution]] [[Category: Colonial American Maroons'' (New YorkHistory]][[Category: New York University Press, 2014), 165.</ref>African American History]]