African Americans and Native Americans in the Revolution

1. African Americans and Native Americans in the Revolution By Jenna Saunders and Melinda Garrard

2. African Americans in the Army • African Americans joined both sides of the revolution; they were enlisted by the northern states to fight in the continental army, but the British offered freedom to any slaves who fought for them. Slaves were not allowed to join the army in the more southern states because their owners were afraid the African Americans would try to start a slave rebellion, so the leaders didn’t want to put weapons in their hands.

3. African Americans in the Army • African American soldiers contributed in many battles. There were many slave soldiers in the militia at Lexington and Concord, as well as at the Battle of Bunker Hill. At the siege of Yorktown, the Continental Army was estimated to be about one quarter African American soldiers.

4. African Americans in the Navy Though African Americans were not allowed to join the army in some colonies, slaves everywhere could join the navy. War leaders and slave owners had no qualms about putting slaves in the navy because they would not solely be wielding weapons. Also, there was a shortage of navy captains, so the African Americans seemed the logical choice of people to pilot the ships.

5. Native Americans Taking Sides • Many of the Native Americans were neutral, but some joined the British because they were afraid of losing their land, and the British promised to protect them. • The Cherokee tribe was one of many that was tired of Americans taking their land, so they attacked, being the first Native American tribe to join the war.

6. Native Americans Taking Sides At first, the British and the Americans did not want the Native Americans to help fight. They believed that the war should only be between Britain and America; the Indians should not intrude on their war. Many Native Americans were tentative about taking sides. Then, a Mohawk chief named Joseph Brant (Thayendanega) encouraged the Iroquois tribe to side with the British. This led to some other tribes taking sides.

7. African Americans and Native Americans played an important role in the Revolutionary war. Whether it was fighting for either nation or simply as slaves, they contributed greatly to the war.