The American Revolution America Breaks Away!
Outcomes 3.9 discuss the causes and outcomes of the American Revolution with particular emphasis on the impact on African people, i.e., Black Loyalists, Black Refugees.
Canada 1776 (Fort Cumberland)
US 1776 (Washington Crosses the Delaware)
The American Revolutionary War 1776 The Intolerable Acts Broke the 13 colonies away from Britain violently Solved the issue of slavery through cementing the economics of slavery Slaves encouraged to run away and join Britain – made promises
The Intolerable Acts The Tea Act: Allowed the British East India Company to charge a tax on the import of tea into the 13 colonies which was applicable after the government taxes so inherently it acted as a tax on taxes… The Stamp Act: Taxed the paper used for stamps and currency The Quebec Act: Increased the territory belonging to the province of Quebec by taking it from the 13 colonies Townsend Acts: Set out the amount of taxes that should be paid by the colonies – designed to make the colonies pay their “share”… Declatory Act: Declared the colonies were as affected by the British Parliament as England was herself…
The Boston Tea Party
Terms Loyalist: Someone who remained loyal to England Implied white Black Loyalist: Someone who remained loyal to England in the Revolution Implied slave or former slave
The Promise Break away from the colonies Fight for the British Get free land Get free transportation Get free housing Get tools and seeds to start up Get free supplies for a year
Spreading the Word…
The Promise
Letter of Promise - Loyalists
Proclamation of Promise to Slaves
Certificate of Freedom
Consequences of Getting Caught
The promise was made to loyalists and black loyalists alike! An additional promise for the black loyalist – run away and join any British Garrison and you get all of the promised items AND freedom…
Promises kept? For the loyalists – if they could prove they left the colonies in service of the British…
Promises kept – Black Loyalists? Black loyalists had to prove service or that they ran away Given old army supplies and clothing Given old/used tools Given fewer food stuffs, fewer general supplies Given materials to build the houses – not always good quality Last priority for land – rocky, acidic, small parcels of land Freedom – but some did submit to slavery in place of starvation
The Ideal…
The Reality – A family on the Hammonds Plains Road
Refugees Ran from war and soldiers If they ran to the British and worked in their service they would be protected
Black Refugees Offered the same protection Got some protections but would be considered last…
Formative: Would you have done it?