Slaves: Why The Americans Won The Revolutionary War

Revolutionary Slaves It is a fact that the Americans won the Revolutionary War, but they could not have won without the enlistment of thousands of slaves into their army. However, the Patriots did not enlist the slaves first, but twas the Redcoats that made the move first. Utilizing every possible resource to win the war was Britain’s plan, which included the black slaves that were under their control. The Americans did not plan on utilizing their black slaves at first, but they changed their minds after losing many soldiers and battles against the Redcoats. Both the British and Americans had terms and conditions for the male slaves that wanted to enlist in the army, it was up to the slaves to decide which side would actually keep their end
Lord Dunmore’s proclamation increased the resolve of southern plantation owners of not supporting the blacks enlisting in the Continental Army. To counter Dunmore’s proclamation a voice from the Virginia Gazette made his words less believable “Do not believe his words, when his actions directly contradict them...” This in turn lessened the damage dealt by Lord Dunmore to the southern economy to what might have been dangerously corrosive. Both Congress and General George Washington came to a consensus to not recruit any slaves into the revolutionary army in 1775. They do not trust the colored men with weapons of mass destruction and not just the enslaved men, but the freed ones too. The northern colonies did not have much problems with enslaved African Americans, probably because there were not that many labeled as property anymore. It was mainly the south’s fear of slave rebellion that clouded their judgement on whether or not the Continental Army needed colored men. Even though the Continental Army’s numbers were insignificant compared to that of the British army, General Washington still thought of it pointless to utilize African Americans. But a man by the name of Henry Laurens wanted the support of slaves as stated in his letter to George Washington, “…had we Arms for 3000 such black Men, as I could select in Carolina I should have no doubt of success in driving the British out of Georgia…” Washington gave Laurens an interesting reply “The policy of our arming Slaves is, in my opinion, a moot point, unless the enemy set the example...” Henry Laurens was president of the Continental Congress prior to writing this letter to Washington, so it is accurate to say Laurens still had influence within Congress. So with that power of influence Laurens had asked for support of utilizing colored men as a way to help his son, John Laurens, whom served under General