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Liberty or Freedom: the issue of arming slaves to fight in the American Revolution
Melba Moon
American Revolution: Issues that forged a Nation
This lesson will examine the participation of free blacks and slaves in the American Revolution. Students will explore the issue of slavery and the arming of slaves to fight for the cause of liberty. While many Patriots feared putting arms into the hands of slaves, George Washington saw it as a means of expanding his army. Over the objections of slave owners, he enlisted slaves. The British, as well, sought to tap this source of manpower by offering freedom to escaped slaves who joined the British army and fought. For the slaves, the issue was simple; freedom from slavery was more important to them than freedom from Great Britain. Black heroes of the American Revolution will be the focus of this lesson. Pulling from Internet and book sources, the students will discover the heroes of both sides.
Worksheets:
Interview Worksheet (Linked Files)
Research List (Linked Files)
Wiencek, Henry. An Imperfect God, George Washington, His Slaves and the Creation of America.New York: Farrah, Straus, and Giroux, 2003.
List of names for students to research:
Oliver Cromwell
William Lee
George Latchom
Edward Hector
Austin Dabney
Salem Poor
Peter Salem
Prince Whipple
Agrippa Hull
Lemuel Haynes
Primas Black
Epheram Blackmen
Joseph Ranger
Caesar Tarrant
William Flora
Lambert Latham
James Forten
James Armistead--who took the name of Lafayette when freed
Saul Matthews
Antigua
Quaco
These names were taken from the book:
Davis, Burke. Black Heroes of the American Revolution. New York: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1977.
websites
This information will also be offered as an attachment to this lesson:
List of names for students to research:
Oliver Cromwell http://08016.com/cromwell.html
http://zorak.monmouth.edu/~afam/fight1.html
Edward Hector http://www.ushistory.org/brandywine/special/art04.htm
Colonel Middleton commanded a company of African Americans volunteers from Massachusetts.
Austin Dabney http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~cescott/dabney.html
Salem Poor http://www.aaregistry.com/african_american_history/1956/Salem_Poor_an_original_patriot
Peter Salem http://www.aaregistry.com/african_american_history/1937/Peter_Salem_an_original_patriot
Prince Whipple http://cghs.dade.k12.fl.us/african-american/precivil/whipple.htm
Agrippa Hull http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2p13.html
Lemuel Haynes http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2p29.html
Caesar Tarrant http://www.afrigeneas.com/forumd/index.cgi?noframes;read=3533
William Flora http://www.afrigeneas.com/forum-military/index.cgi?noframes;read=69
Lambert Latham http://www.wallbuilders.com/resources/search/detail.php?ResourceID=107
James Forten http://www.blackinventor.com/pages/jamesforten.html
James Armistead--who took the name of Lafayette when freed http://www.cia.gov/cia/ciakids/history/james01.html
Saul Matthews http://www.vahistorical.org/sva2003/americans.htm (very short) http://www.thehistorynet.com/mhq/blforgottenpatriots/index3.html
https://icon.army.mil/anon/content/history/PDFS/womenmi.pdf
No website found:
George Latchom, William Lee, Primas Black, Epheram Blackmen, Joseph Ranger
Antigua and Quaco very little is known of these two, including no last names.
These names are taken from the book, Black Heroes of the American Revolution by Burke Davis
Other websites of interest:
http://www.americanrevolution.com/AfricanAmericansInTheRevolution.htm
black seamen
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2p51.html
portrait of black soldier
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2h81.html
Colin Powell on blacks in revolution
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2i1610.html
website blacks in the American revolution
http://www.americanrevolution.org/blk.html
American Revolution from British point of view
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/state/empire/rebels_redcoats_01.shtml
diary of a slave owner in Virginia detailing slaves leaving to join Dunmore
http://www.history.org/History/teaching/tchaadia.cfm
suggested reading for loyalists
Suggested Reading W. Brown, The Good Americans (1969); M.B. Fryer, King's Men(1980); B. Graymont, The Iroquois in the American Revolution (1972); Bruce G. Wilson, As She Began (1981); E.C. Wright, The Loyalists of New Brunswick (1955).
Loyalists
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/PrinterFriendly.cfm?Params=A1ARTA0004796
50 minutes
5
How did the participation of black Americans impact the outcome of the American Revolution?
Distribute 4 pictures (2 blacks and 2 whites, Patriots and Loyalists) and two biographies. Allow students several minutes to match information with what they believe to be the correct pictures. [Notice if students matched biographies with any black Patriots or Loyalists].
Use the 2 biographies to start a group discussion about black heroes of the American Revolution. Discuss what these men did and how it helped the side they were serving.
Step 1 Schedule computer lab time, if possible. If not download biographies of the listed black heroes of the American Revolution. (I used the book Black Heroes of the American Revolutionto develop my list) If you have access to this book, it has short biographies for all these Patriots.
Step 2 Assign a name for each student to research (this can be done in groups if necessary). Cut apart the names from the list with the websites and use for student research in the computer lab. More than one student can be assigned per name if there are more students than names.
Step 3 Students will use the Internet to research the person they have been assigned. Media Center materials might be helpful as well.
Step 4 Students will record information found on their person on a worksheet.
Students will assume the role of a reporter and use information discovered as if they had interviewed the historical figure and will then write an article for their "newspaper." Articles should be at least one half page in length. Be sure to include who, what, when, where and why.
Suggestion: Use time-travel element to develop student interest. (Such as the magic school bus which takes students back in time to visit historical periods)
Step 1 Give out worksheet
Step 2 Have students use the information gathered in previous activity to complete this assignment for homework or at the end of class period.
I bought the book Black Heroes of the American Revolution used on Amazon for $.95 and the book An Imperfect God, Georgia Washington, his slaves and the founding of Americafor $.20. Shipping for both books was about $6.00. These are excellent resources for this lesson. If your school doesn't have them, you could probably get them easily, as I did.
I have compiled a list of websites for students to use for research.
http://www.americanrevolution.com/AfricanAmericansInTheRevolution.htm
black seamen
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2p51.html
portrait of black soldier
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2h81.html
Colin Powell on blacks in revolution
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2i1610.html
website blacks in the American revolution
http://www.americanrevolution.org/blk.html
American Revolution from British point of view
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/state/empire/rebels_redcoats_01.shtml
diary of a slave owner in Virginia detailing slaves leaving to join Dunmore
http://www.history.org/History/teaching/tchaadia.cfm
suggested reading for loyalists
Suggested Reading W. Brown, The Good Americans (1969); M.B. Fryer, King's Men(1980); B. Graymont, The Iroquois in the American Revolution (1972); Bruce G. Wilson, As She Began (1981); E.C. Wright, The Loyalists of New Brunswick (1955).
Loyalists
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/PrinterFriendly.cfm?Params=A1ARTA0004796
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