Slavery Dbq

As the times were changing and war was imminent in America, slavery began to be affected by individuals and more importantly by the war in which slavery had developed into a highly addressed matter during the Revolutionary era. As the war began it became clear, to both sides, that in order to win battles the British would need to employ tactics to recruit more soldiers. The British army did this by offering slaves liberty in exchange for their service to the British army. The colonies however had multiple tactics in gaining more soldiers, such as buying some slaves’ freedom or by paying them to fight in the war. Slavery also during the Revolutionary era resulted in individuals beginning to question slavery and whether it was morally acceptable

to continue its practice. Furthermore, this belief had caught on with more individuals and began to grow, as a result societies were beginning to form that opposed slavery in society. Also as a result of this anti-slavery movement slaves were beginning to petition for their freedom in America, because they had points such as liberty is for all in which they heavily asserted to the courts. These arguments are what had sparked the movement in America for liberty for all slaves, these as well led to the gradual emancipation of the slaves and eventually to the nation splitting Civil War.
As the Revolutionary War was well under way the British in time realized that if they were to win the War, they were going to need an army with immense numbers. One tactic that was utilized by the British was to offer slaves freedom if they rebelled and joined the British Empire. “And I do hereby further declare all indentured Servants, Negroes, or others, (appertaining to Rebels,) free that are able and willing to bear Arms, they joining His MAJESTY'S Troops as soon as may be, for the more speedily reducing this Colony to a proper Sense of their Duty.” These statements found in Dunmore’s Emancipation Proclamation authored by Lord Dunmore, a royal governor of Virginia, was issued in the late 18th century. This proclamation was used by the British as a way to have slaves rebel against their masters, and instead join the British Empire. As a result of this proclamation hundreds of slaves had rebelled and left their masters to join the British. ” By the summer of 1776, at least 800 blacks "willing to bear arms" had joined Dunmore's force now quartered on Gwynn's Island.” This proclamation affects slaves by offering any slave freedom in exchange for their service. This in turn leads to several hundred slaves to join the British Empire in which helps strengthen the army significantly. Furthermore, this is tactic employed by the British further shows how slavery and slaves were greatly affected by the Revolutionary War.
Next, the Continental Army and its militias quickly changed their opinions over whether or not to use slaves and or blacks in general for their armies.

At the start of the war the armies did not allow any free blacks and/or slaves to be enlisted in the armies. However, when Lord Dunmore issued his proclamation and all the slaves began to flood over to the British’s side, they were quick to change their opinions. The inclusion of slaves into the army was rather quick change from 1775 to 1778. At first no blacks were accepted, then only to free blacks and finally to all blacks regardless of their status. The quick change was due to Dunmore’s Proclamation and the Continental Army’s desperate need of recruits. As soon as the colonies noticed that Dunmore’s Proclamation was aiding in the British’s recruitment of slaves and the advocating done by Hamilton and Greene, the armies decided to stop the exclusivity. In which they opened up the enlistments to blacks freed and enslaved. Therefore, with the strategy that the colonies used, influenced by the British, the armies began attracting slaves since they were as well proposing liberty in conversation for their service. This strategy instigated by the American armies further shows that slavery played an important role in the Revolutionary War, and that it was being affected by the Revolution as well. This further assists slaves in which it would soon lead to some individuals questioning the practice of

slavery.
Then, during the Revolutionary War slavery was beginning to be seen as an immorally wrong practice by some, including Samuel Hopkins. Hopkins who had many of his works published in the late 17th century and early 18th century, had his works compiled in 1852. In one of his publications he writes over how slavery when thought about is immoral. If African Americans have been brought into slavery by violence and they have not given up their liberty or the right to sell them. These same irrational tyrants then hold them in bondage until they are sold to other tyrants. These slaves have as much of a right to the unalienable right of liberty than as do I or anyone does. Hopkins states that “these irrational tyrants” are denying all slaves their inalienable right to freedom. Moreover, this begins to influence others around that slavery is an unjust practice that needs to be rid of. Slavery as a result of the colonies and the British Empire enlisting slaves in their respective armies and the Revolutionary War helps start this spreading idea, more so in the United States.
Afterwards, during the same time period there were religious notions that were influencing individuals to begin to think immorally over slavery. These religious notions helped spread the awareness to other that slavery should be questioned. Furthermore, Samuel Hopkins again promotes that slavery should be a troubling topic to Christians. “The benevolent Creator and Father of men, having given to them all an equal right to life, liberty, and property, no Sovereign power on earth can justly deprive them of wither; but in conformity to impartial government an laws to which they have expressly or tactility consented.” Hopkins brings religion into the scene by stating that all individuals are given certain God given rights. These rights of “life, liberty, and property” which cannot be taken away from any individual or institution whatsoever. This further draws attention to slavery and that it should be reconsidered as moral. Hopkins also states that, “He commands us to go and preach the gospel to all nations; to carry the gospel to them, and not to go, and with violence bring them from their native country, without saying a word to them, or to the nations from whom they are taken, about the gospel, or anything that relates to it.” Hopkins in this statement has said that God does not command them to bring violence to nations and enslave their people; however, instead they are meant to peacefully preach the gospel to nations. This again further helps awareness to other individuals that the war is helping shape the perspectives of slavery and changing them in a positive manner.
Next, as the War was progressing and more and more individuals were beginning to question societies in opposition to slavery began to form. These societies when together advocated for the emancipation of slaves in the States and believed in the protection of their rights. “Desolates of friends and of knowledge, struggling with poverty, and accustomed to submission, they are under great disadvantages in adverting their rights. These considerations induce us to form ourselves into a Society, o be filed a Society for promoting the Manumission of Slaves, and protecting such of them as have been, or may be, liberated.” Such societies were very active during the War in which they pleaded to the Continental Congress and printed several thousand pamphlets that these slaves should be liberated. “That the standing committee take order printing two thousand copies of a Pamphlet, entitle, “A Dialogue concerning the slavery of the American “; showing it to be the duty and interest of the American Colonies to emancipate all the African Slaves, dedicated to the Honorable Continental Congress." These societies put the interests in their hands and advocated for them, pushing on the concept of emancipation for all slaves living at the time in the United States. “We naturally look to you in behalf of more than half a million of persons in these Colonies, who are under such a degree of oppression and tyranny as to be wholly deprived of all civil and personal liberty, to which they have as good a right as any of their fellow men, and are reduced to the most abject slate of bandage and slavery; without any just cause.” These societies believed in liberty for the slaves and they clearly advocated tremendously to all individuals. As a result of the War and the steady growth towards the opposition of the continuation of slaves societies were formed to assist slaves with the slaves plead for freedom during the Revolutionary time period.
Then, slaves were beginning to increasingly go to court to petition for their freedom in the colonies.

The main point that petitioners argued in the past was that they were made equal since the beginning. We the petitioners are the same as any other man because we also believe in the Unalienable Right of liberty, which was bestowed upon us by a greater being. We have been taken unreasonably from our friends and family from the hands of cruelty. It has been argued that a “great being” created them equal and only by cruelty has their liberty and equality been taken away. Additionally, some slaves went an extra step to sue for their freedom and other charges they deemed necessary. A court case submitted by Quok Walker to the Massachusetts General Court in 1777, which he sued for his freedom and back wages. When the verdict was announced, the Massachusetts Chief Justice ruled that Walker’s enslavement had violated the new state’s constitution. This case quickly brought an end to slavery in Massachusetts and other New England States. As a result, of Walker’s court case the whole state of Massachusetts ended slavery, and had soon begun a trend, in the North, of freeing the slaves and giving them their much wanted freedom. With these petitions and court cases during the Revolutionary War slaves had begun to be affected again, this time in a radically positive

way.
In conclusion, through the influences of individuals and more significantly by the Revolutionary War, slavery and its people had been greatly affected and addressed in the Revolutionary time period. This was done by the British announcing a proclamation that would entice the slaves to revolt from their masters and join the British defenses. Moreover, the Continental Army would act in the same way as the British by changing their ways from excluding blacks to the acceptance of any black free or enslaved. Additionally, individuals had begun to see slavery as an immoral act and this idea had begun to be spread by important political figures such as Samuel Hopkins. Moreover, these feelings grew stronger and spread through the nation with the help of religious notions in which people had begun to question and/or challenge the practices of slavery. As a result of this societies in opposition to slavery were formed in order to advocate emancipation for slaves. Also, slaves had also begun to petition for their freedom and even sue for their right of liberty, such cases led to the emancipation of whole states like Massachusetts. These events that occurred during the Revolutionary era gradually led to the emancipation of the slaves as well as the war between the North and the South.