The American War of Independence was not only a fight for freedom from a tyrannical world superpower. For an estimated 9,000 Black soldiers who fought for the patriot cause and roughly 20,000 for the Loyalists, emancipation was on the line. In this online lecture, Researcher Danielle Rose provides a brief history of Black soldiers during the Revolutionary War and their motivations for joining either side; and discuss several resources, records, and strategies for piecing together the service and stories of individuals.

This syllabus is intended to accompany our online lecture Researching Black Patriots and Loyalists During the Revolutionary Era (archived recording as of 7/6/23: https://americanancestors.org/video-library). It includes a reference for all resources mentioned in the session, plus links to many others.

Created by Danielle Rose

Published: July 2023

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