American Revolution Dbq

644 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Slavery and the economy in America

The Black American Revolutionary Era in the late 1700’s is a big part of what makes the American culture today. There were petitions for liberty and heroic African slaves that played roles in the revolution to get to the newly independent America. African American slaves who participated in this era were revolutionary heroes who fought for their freedom that they believed to so strongly deserved. In the 1770’s, Massachusetts slaves began to write petitions to their provincial government in hope of granted leave to the enslaved population. The people of Massachusetts were thought to believe in equity and justice, so the slaves felt they would take their letters into consideration. One slave, Felix, mailed a petition to the Governor, Council, and House of Representatives of Massachusetts that had written, “The slaves would stay true to their Father in Heaven in order to obtain the right leave to share the word of God on both sides of the Atlantic in hope of their own country, family, and freedom.” (Document 6 page 42). Another slave, Peter, sent a letter to the local …show more content…

African Americans got involved when Lord Dunmore started to lose men to the Patriots and needed reinforcements. Lord Dunmore wrote a proclamation on November 7, 1775 that read, “He declared all indented servants free that were able to fight for him and his army.”(Document 12 page 55). Some African Americans played major parts in the war for both sides, because of the freedoms they promised. One of which is Saul, who was originally part of the Continental army, and played a huge role in taking down a British Picquett as a spy. The Virginia General Assembly gave him a reward for this service (Document 17 page 62). Also, a painting was made that included Peter Salem, another slave, in the Battle of Bunker Hill that depicted how important the African Americans were in that Continental battle by John Trumbull (Document 16 page

Show More
Related

  • DBQ: The American Revolution

    1118 Words  | 3 Pages

    From the time period 1775-1800, the American Revolution would impact the United States in political, social and economic ways.

    Read More

  • Revolutionary War Dbq

    1561 Words  | 4 Pages

    During the War for American Independence, 78 men were commissioned as general officers into the Continental Army by the Continental Congress. Many of these generals commanded troops with differing levels of competence and success. George Washington is typically seen as most important general, however throughout the war a number of his subordinates were able to distinguish themselves amongst their peers. One such general was Nathanael Greene. At the end of the Revolutionary War, Greene would become Washington’s most important subordinate, as demonstrated by Edward Lengel’s assessment of Greene as “the youngest and most capable of Washington’s generals.” Washington and Greene developed a strong, positive and close relationship between themselves. Greene began his life in the military after having been raised a Quaker. With limited access to literature and knowledge in his younger years, Greene became an avid reader which equipped him with the knowledge necessary to excel as a general during the war. Through his devoted study of military operations, firsthand experience and natural abilities as a soldier, Greene became an excellent military commander. He would become known for his successful southern campaign, during which, he loosened British control of the South and helped lead the war to its climax at Yorktown. Throughout the war, he was involved in a number high profile battles where he built a reputation of being an elite strategist who also understood unconventional warfare, logistics, and the importance of military-civil affairs and had a natural political/social acumen. The thesis of this paper is that Greene’s proven reputation of being a soldier, strategist and statesman would cause him to become the second greates...

    Read More

  • Civil War Dbq African Americans

    597 Words  | 2 Pages

    In 1619, slaves from Africa started being shipped to America. In the years that followed, the slave population grew and the southern states became more dependent on the slaves for their plantations. Then in the 1800s slavery began to divide America, and this became a national conflict which lead to the Civil War. Throughout history, groups in the minority have risen up to fight for their freedom. In the United States, at the time of the Civil War African Americans had to fight for their freedom. African Americans used various methods to fight for their freedom during the Civil War such as passing information and supplies to the Union Army, escaping to Union territory, and serving in the Union’s army. These actions affected the African Americans and the United States by helping the African Americans earn citizenship and abolishing slavery in the United States.

    Read More

  • The Role of African Americans in the Revolutionary War

    707 Words  | 2 Pages

    African Americans were active prior to the start of the war. The Boston Massacre was an event which created a want for independence. On March 5, 1770, the British troops stationed on King Street in Boston were confronted with an uprising and began shooting into the crowd(Davis 206). Crispus Attucks, a black man, led the 1770 uprising against British troops that resulted in the Boston Massacre. It is alleged that he cried out, "Don't be afraid!" as he led the crowd of protesters against armed British...

    Read More

  • The Negro in the American Revolution

    1337 Words  | 3 Pages

    From the first battles of Concord and Lexington in 1775, African American soldiers took up arms against Great Britain. Of the many African Americans who fought in those battles, the most famous are Peter Salem, Cato Stedman, Cuff Whittemore, Cato Wood, Prince Estabrook, Caesar Ferrit, Samuel Craft, Lemuel Haynes, and Pomp Blackman. One of the most distinguished heroes at the Battle of Bunker Hill was Peter Salem who fired the shot that killed Major John Pictcarirn of the Royal Marines. But Peter Salem was not the only African American hero during the Revolutionary War.

    Read More

  • American Revolution Dbq

    656 Words  | 2 Pages

    Picture this...on one side of the world, people rebel against the rule of the crown, fighting for freedom from religious persecution. On the other side of the world, a people oppressed by an overbearing government are inspired and also revolt. How are these two revolutions similar and different? The American Revolution took place from 1775 to 1783. This war was between the colonial Americans and the British army. The French Revolution was from 1792 to 1802. It was between the third estate of France, the monarchy of Great Britain, and the monarchy of Spain. In this essay I will discuss how they were alike and their major differences, including the causes the revolutionaries fought for that led them to war, the amount of losses, and the final outcome of each war.

    Read More

  • The Expansion Of Freedom By Olaudah Equiano

    1027 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Petition of Slaves to the Massachusetts Legislature states, “your petitioners apprehend that they have in common with all other men a natural and unalienable right to that freedom which the Great Parent of the Universe has bestowed equally on all mankind and which they have never forfeited by any compact or agreement whatever, but…were unjustly dragged by the hand of cruel power from their dearest friends and some of them even torn from the embraces of their tender parents, from a populous, pleasant, and plentiful country and in violation of laws of nature and of nations and in defiance of all the tender feelings of humanity brought here either to be sold like beasts of burden and like them condemned to slavery for life, among a people professing the mild religion of Jesus, a people not insensible of the secrets of rational being nor without spirit to resent the unjust endeavors of others to reduce them to a state of bondage and subjection.” (“Voices of Freedom” 115) The petitioners continue to state that they are urgently awaiting the consideration of their petition “whereby they may be restored to the enjoyments of that which is the natural right of all men-and their children who were born in this land of liberty may not be held as slaves after they arrive at the age of twenty-one years. “ (“Voices of Freedom” 116) Besides economies and politics benefiting off the unjust servitude of Africans, they also gained power by taking advantage of colonists, who like the

    Read More

  • Gender Roles of Slaves

    830 Words  | 2 Pages

    ... White revolutionaries and group peoples such as the Quakers began to speak against human bondage. In 1774, once Continental Congress voted to outlaw the slave trade, Rhode Island law stated, “Those who are desirous of enjoying all the hands of liberty should be willing to extend personal liberties to others (Trotter, pg 110).” Still, though African Americans where able to participate in the early beginnings of the war colonists rejected blacks to become soldiers. Yet, as slaves and free blacks began to join British lines in high numbers revolutionaries began drafting them into the military.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Booker T. Washington And W. E. B. Dubois

    483 Words  | 1 Pages

    African-Americans that lived in 18th and 19th century lived in a time of prejudice-ness and discrimination. Those that were African-American during that time faced hatred, racism, and many economics, social, and political--than any other group challenging their own oppressed status and seeking reform. Although they weren’t slaves anymore they still were mistreated and were not seen as equals by most Caucasians. This eventually lead to many African-Americans to get “fed up” and decide to take a stand. They fought for African-Americans to be seen as an equal to Caucasians and to have the same rights that Caucasians do. Two of the leaders I will be comparing today are Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois. Both men had different views and ways to solve the race issues. The ideas to solve the race issues were heavily influenced by their backgrounds.

    Read More

  • African Americans' Pursuit of Freedom During the American Revolution

    1462 Words  | 3 Pages

    During the onset of the war, when the colonists first began their protest against British tyranny they frequently shouted “liberty” and discussed how wrong Britain was to essentially ‘enslave’ the colonists. This rhetoric and discussion of the natural rights of all men quickly initiated a new language for African Americans to then protest their enslavement and ask about their natural rights (Davis 143). As through the revolutionary ideology African Americans were now able “to challenge slavery by petitioning for freedom (through freedom suits), running away, and fighting for their own liberty on both sides of the conflict” (White et al. 121). Moreover, through the same revolutionary ideology that the colonists used to motivate themselves and protest to fight for their independence from Britain; they also inspired African Americans by giving them a new language in which to pursue their liberty as

    Read More

  • Did The American Revolution Change Society?

    735 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many brought up from Africa were forced to work on plantations. During the Revolution, many slaves wanted to help fight in the war, so in return they would get freedom, but “With blacks slaves 25 percent of the population (and in some counties 50 percent), fear of slave revolts grew. George Washington had turned down request of blacks, seeking freedom, to fight in the Revolutionary army” (Zinn 82). Still many did fight in the revolutions. Many blacks fought on both sides, but many used this way to escape. The abolishment for slavery was brought up a few times in history. “the combinations of blacks in the military, the lack of powerful economic need for slaves and the rhetoric of Revolution led to the end of slavery-but very slowly. As late as 1810, thirty thousand slaves, one-fourth of the black population in the north remained slaves” (Zinn 88). This shows the start of freeing slaves. After their given freedom, blacks wanted to abolish slavery and they began to speak up. Some people petitioned to get money for education for their children. Many of them emerged and began to help society like Benjamin

    Read More

  • Gradual Emancipation In Pennsylvania

    812 Words  | 2 Pages

    The slaves continually fought for their freedom and their viewpoint is well conveyed by the New Hampshire Slave Petition. The slaves state their grievances to the General Assembly and question “from what authority they (slave owners) assume the power to dispose of our lives, freedom and property.” Throughout the entire petition the slaves state their desire for freedom and try to point out the hypocrisy evident in the ideology of the United States as a free

    Read More

  • African American Revolution Research Paper

    1422 Words  | 3 Pages

    When you learn about African American’s during the Revolutionary era you get to perceive the American Revolution from a new perspective. The American revolution, also known as the Great Rebellion took place from 1765 to 1783. The United States declared their independence in 1776 and African Americans had a big part to do with it. In 1619 when the first slaves came to America they contributed more to making this country great than the biggest plantation owners ever would. The American Revolution was an important time for the Patriots and the British but it was an even bigger time for African Americans.

    Read More

  • African American Rights Essay

    1329 Words  | 3 Pages

    Although African Americans had always participated in the wars when they were needed, it wasn't until 1948 when Harry S. Truman appointed that Africans could be appointed into the U.S. navy and considered soldiers. However, although the African Americans were now prohibited from being slaves , they were still segregated against. There were many leaders that fought against this segregation, one of them including Martin Luther King, who believed in the equality of all people. He gave fierceless speeches to help the African American cause. He was president of the Montgomery Association, and he directed the Montgomery boycott of public buses. The protest attracted many people to listen to his beliefs and fight along with him to end segregation.

    Read More

  • Prejudice And Discrimination Essay

    797 Words  | 2 Pages

    The most important event in civil rights for African Americans between the 1600s and 1881, would be the first mention of the abolition movement which was in 1688. The first protest against slavery took place in 168 in Germantown. This was the starting point of the end of slavery as people began to revolt against. “In 1688, only seven years after William Penn received his the charter for his “Holy Experiment” based on religious freedom and tolerance, four German Quakers, none of whom had been in the colony for more than five years, issued the first formal protest against slavery in Pennsylvania; indeed, the first formal protest issued anywhere in Britain’s North American colonies” (Hull,1).

    Read More

More about American Revolution Dbq

Open Document