Unseen Victims of the American Revolution

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Often discussions of the American Revolution rely primarily on the positive outcomes for the majority of male, land owning, Protestants. Further examination shows the other groups found less success with the new nation’s independence. While some within these groups may have seen some favorable changes after the war, the overwhelming population instead gained less. Sometimes this was due to backlash for siding with the British, or developing views on racial superiority. Regardless of motivation, many did not find themselves receiving the benefits that many fought for, including Native Americans, African Americans, and Loyalists. At the outbreak of the Revolution, many groups of Native Americans were faced with selecting a side. Some attempted …show more content…

Seen as being inferior, the normal “gentleman’s” rules of warfare were believed to not apply. This was common throughout the war, but is particularly notable within the Iroquois campaign in 1779. This stark difference in the treatment toward Native Americans during the Revolution is discussed in length within Dr. Wayne E. Lee’s article “From Gentility to Atrocity.” Wanting to stop threats from the powerful Iroquois Confederation, Major General George Sullivan, was sent into Iroquois controlled territory. Unlike a campaign that relied on one military group solely against another, the Continental Army instead was issued orders to treat all Native American peoples as combatants, including women and children, in addition to the destruction of property and …show more content…

While many within this group saw their own inspiration for freedom within the Declaration of Independence’s “all men are created equal,” this was an ideal that would not come to fruition. While, some people did gain emancipation this was not the prevailing outcome. This includes the numbers who fought in exchange for freedom, such as those who allied with the British following Dunmore 's Proclamation in 1776, as figures reflect that this was still a small percentage of the enslaved population at the time. Long lasting effects would also come from the discussions and work of the Continental Congress, and their stance regarding the legality of slavery within the new

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