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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.

==='''=The History Impact of British Abolitionism'''Somerset==== It is useful [[File:Mansfield.jpg|left|thumbnail|200px|Lord Mansfield]]According to begin 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 understand this context by briefly reviewing the history institution of British abolitionismenslavement and westward territorial expansion. The moral fervor around Seven Years War was the opening salvo in the brutality and horrors of conflict that dealt prominently with these two concerns. Not only was it ominous that it appeared that the Middle Passage led to British would push a movement by abolitionists in proto-abolitionist policy where the eighteenth century to outlaw the Atlantic Slave Trade. These exposes enslaved were based upon both religious and economic argumentsconcerned, but perhaps most of all they there were part of a liberal natural rights logic also concerns that asserted humans were born with certain inalienable rights. Enslavement, inasmuch they might be eventually be armed as it was crystallized by the treatment had been done in other parts of human beings as property, was an incursion of this very logic. As the contradictions sharpened, those who had invested much political and economic capital into the system began to withdraw their support at varying levelsempire.

'This was These rumblings would impact the context ways that gave rise to Somerset vthe colonists articulated their grievances with Great Britain. StewartAs Horne points out, where an enslaved African that they had been transported increasingly attracted to the English North American mainland had sued for his freedom based on English common law. Lord Mansfield, because of its relative security from the judge who decided the case, kinds of revolts that had been influenced by the arguments of the abolitionists, and eventually awarded freedom to taking place in the plaintiff, James Somerset. This decision sent shockwaves Caribbean throughout the British Empire—especially the American colonieseighteenth century. But it signaled to the enslaved that the British could serve as The rumors from Britain were thus a vehicle to remove the thumb of their enslavers, much like the Spanish had done during the eighteenth centurystep too far. <ref> Cedric Robinson, ''Black Movements in America'' (New York: Routledge, 1997), 14-29; Gerald Horne, ''The Counterrevolution of 1776: Slave Resistance and the Origins of the United States'' (New York: New York University Press, 2014), 209161-19208. </ref>

[[File:Mansfield.jpg|left|thumbnail|Lord Mansfield]]==='''The Impact of ''Somerset'''''=Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation==== According to historian Gerald Horne who has continued Virginia was ground zero for much of the political debates and decisions regarding the arduous process colonies. It was here where much of rewriting this historythe political systems that would define America would be created. By 1775, Somerset signaled to as the colonists that began to fear the British may not provide the same level incursions of support to the institution of enslavement and westward territorial expansionBritish, revolutionary sensibilities had already emerged there. The Seven Years War It seemed imminent that a more thoroughgoing conflict was on the opening salvo in the conflict horizon as militias began to form. It is important to note that dealt prominently with these two concernsthis revolutionary fervor was not universal. Not only There was it ominous that it appeared that a large swath of colonists who remained loyal to the union. These Loyalists sought to ensure the continuity of British would push a proto-abolitionist policy where the enslaved were concernedrule, there as many of them were also concerns that they might be eventually be armed as had been done in other parts direct beneficiaries of their control.  To fortify British rule, Lord Dunmore, the empiregovernor of Virginia, decided upon a shrewd tactic. These rumblings would impact By this period, Virginia had erected one of the ways that largest slave economies in the colonists articulated their grievances Americas, with Great Britainforty percent of its population made up of bondsmen. As Horne points outa result, they it had been increasingly attracted to experienced sporadic revolts and varying levels of marronage. <ref> Robinson, ''[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]'', 1-14. </ref> Seizing upon this opportunity and facing the North American mainland because risings of a veritable militia of its relative security from kinds patriots, Dunmore declared in November of revolts 1775, that all who did not pledge loyalty to the crown would be declared traitors and that had been taking place enslaved Africans would be given freedom in the Caribbean throughout the eighteenth centuryexchange for military service.  The rumors from Britain “Ethiopian Regiment” was then mustered, having ramifications far beyond this proclamation. Many Black loyalist regimes were thus a step too farcreated following the 1779 Phillipsburg Proclamation, issued by Sir Henry Clinton, which was more wide-ranging than Dunmore’s edict as it covered all of the colonies. <ref> Horne, ''The Counterrevolution of 1776'', 161219-20852. </ref> ==='''Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation'''=The Impact of African American Military Service====

Virginia was ground zero for much ====The Declaration of Independence====The impact even found its way into the political debates and decisions regarding founding document of the coloniesRevolution, Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence. It The history of this document demonstrates, of course, that Jefferson was here where much one of the political systems that would define America would be createda few authors. By 1775However, Jefferson as the colonists began to fear the incursions of the British, revolutionary sensibilities a Virginian slaveholder had already emerged there. It seemed imminent that a more thoroughgoing conflict was on the horizon as militias began to form. It is important specific ax to note that this revolutionary fervor was not universalgrind. There was In a large swath of colonists who remained loyal to the union. These Loyalists sought to ensure the continuity of British rulemuch-heralded statement, Jefferson wrote, as many of them were direct beneficiaries of their control.

To fortify British rule“He has waged cruel war against human nature itself, Lord Dunmore, the governor Virginia, decided upon a shrewd tactic. By this period, Virginia had erected a one violating its most sacred rights of the largest slave economies life and liberty in the Americas, with forty percent of its population made up persons of bondsmen. As a result it had experienced sporadic revolts and varying levels of marronage. <ref> Robinsondistant people who never offended him, ''Black Movements captivating & carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere or to incur miserable death in America''their transportation thither. This piratical warfare, 1-14. </ref> Seizing upon this opportunity had facing the risings of a veritable militia opprobrium of patriotsinfidel powers, Dunmore declared in November is the warfare 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 serviceChristian King of Great Britain.

The “Ethiopian Regiment” was then mustered having ramifications far beyond 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 proclamationexecrable commerce. Many Black loyalist regimes were created following the 1779 Phillipsburg Proclamation 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, issued by Sir Henry Clintonmurdering the people on whom he has obtruded them: thus paying off former crimes committed again the Liberties of one people, with crimes which was more wide-ranging than Dunmore’s edict as it covered all he urges them to commit against the lives of the coloniesanother. ” <ref> HorneBlackpast.org, The Counterrevolution “The Deleted Passage of the Declaration of 1776, 219Independence.” http://www.blackpast.org/primary/declaration-independence-and-debate-over-52. slavery </ref>

==='''Almost none of this passage, however, made it into the final document. The Impact problem was that it could be construed as pro-abolitionist which would have rankled those who saw the war through pro-slavery lenses. Even if we consider it to be pro-abolitionist, the irony is that it came from the pen of a slaveholder who emphasized both the question of natural rights and the idea that the greatest grievance was the impact that arming the enslaved would have. In fact, this animosity toward King George over the “excitement” of enslaved Africans is the portion of African American Military Service'''===this passage that remained in the final document: “He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us.” <ref> http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/ </ref>

It is believed that some 6,500 enslaved Africans decided that it was in their best interest to fight on behalf ====The Fate of the British. Dunmore’s proclamation had reverberations throughout Black Loyalists==== The patriots famously demanded the colonies. It made freedom almost immediately accessible to return of their enslaved Africans that had resisted property in many ways prior to the Revolutionary War, but now found the road somewhat easier as a result Treaty of the new British policyParis. Many of those that fought directly undermined However, Sir Guy Carleton loosely interpreted the slave economies terms of the south by leaving surrender and joining the Redcoats. Others decided it was expedient able to choose neither side. Some estimated that help aid in the Revolutionary War led to evacuation of over 303,000 runaways in Virginia aloneloyalists to Nova Scotia. Overall, about 100,000 There are estimates that many more enslaved Africans emancipated themselves during this period. <ref> Robinson, ''Black Movements from America ended up in America''the West Indies, 23-24; Gerald HorneSpanish Florida, ''Negro Comrades of the Crown: African Americans and the British Empire Fight the USierra Leone.S. before Emancipation'' (New York: New York University Press, 2012), 17; Alan <ref> Gilbert, ''Black Patriots and Loyalists: Fighting for Emancipation in the War for Independence'' (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2012), 121196-28206. </ref>

==='''The Declaration Carleton’s now-famous “Book of Independence'''=== The impact even found it’s way Negroes”—which was made into a historical novel and television miniseries—recorded the founding document names of those who he, working on behalf of the Revolutioncrown, Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independencewould endeavor to fulfill promises embedded in the Dunmore and Phillipsburg proclamations. The history of this document demonstrates, of courseIn Nova Scotia, that Jefferson was one of emancipated Africans lived a few authorsrelatively harsh life as Canada provided an unforgiving climate. HoweverOthers would later find their way to Africa and help settle Sierra Leone, Jefferson as thought to be a Virginian slaveholder, had a specific axe haven for Africans who were seized by the British patrols that were intending to grindenforce the ban of the Atlantic Slave Trade. In a much-heralded statement, Jefferson wrote,

“He has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating its most sacred rights of life and liberty in Their lives under the Crown were only an improvement for the persons of a distant people who never offended him, captivating & carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere or to incur miserable death in their transportation thithersimple reason that they were not enslaved. This piratical warfareIt is, the opprobrium of infidel powershowever, is the warfare of the Christian King of Great Britain. Determined to keep open a market where Men should be bought & soldfolly, he has prostituted his negative for suppressing every legislative attempt to prohibit or restrain this execrable commercebelieve that things were easy. And that this assemblage One of horrors might want no fact the complicated realities of distinguished die, he this and subsequent periods is now exciting those very people to rise in arms among us, and to purchase that liberty emancipation while lessening the pain of which he has deprived themchattel enslavement, by murdering did not eradicate the people on whom he has obtruded them: thus paying off former crimes committed again larger problems at the Liberties heart of one people, with crimes which he urges them to commit against Black existence in the lives of anothermodern world.” <ref> Blackpast.orgGilbert, “The Deleted Passage of the Declaration of Independence.” http://www.blackpast.org/primary/declaration-independence-''Black Patriots andLoyalists'', 207-debate-over-slavery 42.</ref>

Almost none of this passage, however, made it into Others stayed in the final document. The problem was new country and found themselves subject to a deepening and more vicious enslavement than that it could be construed as pro-abolitionist which would have rankled had existed before. Among those who saw the war as prothat were re-slavery. Even if we consider it enslaved (though many were not), an important group became maroons utilizing their military skills to be pro-abolitionist, wage war against the irony is that it came from the pen of a slaveholder who emphasized both the question of natural rights new country in South Carolina and Georgia in the idea that years leading up to the greatest grievance was the impact that arming the enslaved would havenineteenth century. In factThis group called themselves, this animosity toward King George over the “excitement” “King of enslaved Africans is the portion of this passage that remained in the final document: “He has excited domestic insurrections amongst usEngland’s Soldiers.” <ref> httpSylviane Diouf, ''Slavery’s Exiles: The Story of the American Maroons'' (New York://www.ushistoryNew York University Press, 2014), 165.org/declaration/document/ </ref>

==='''The Fate =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.

The patriots famously demanded the return of their enslaved property in the Treaty of Paris. However, Sir Guy Carleton loosely interpreted the terms of surrender and was able to help aid in the evacuation of over 3,000 loyalists to Nova Scotia. There are estimates that many more enslaved Africans from America ended up in the West Indies, Spanish Florida, and Sierra Leone. <ref> Gilbert, div class="portal" style='float:left; width:35%'Black Patriots and Loyalists'', 196-206. >====Related Articles===={{#dpl:category=Colonial American History|ordermethod=firstedit|order=descending|count=8}}</refdiv>

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 lived a relatively harsh life as Canada provided an unforgiving climate. Others would later find their way to Africa and helped 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 Atlantic Slave Trade. ===References===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.<references/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, 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]]