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What were African-Americans' roles in the American Revolution?

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Only 50 years after the defeat of the British at Yorktown, most Americans had already forgotten the extensive role black people had played on both sides during the ... Widespread talk of liberty gave thousands of slaves high expectations, and many were ready to fight for a democratic revolution that might offer them freedom. read more

History >> American Revolution When the American Revolution began, around twenty percent of the population of the thirteen colonies came from African descent. Most of these people were slaves, but some were freemen. African Americans played a major role in the Revolutionary War in different roles including patriots, soldiers, and even spies. read more

Yet, just as white soldiers signed up to fight for the Revolutionary cause, as many as 5,000 African Americans did so as well. At the beginning of the war, one in six colonists was African American, and of those, 99% were slaves. read more

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