Europe, African Americans and
Women in the Revolutionary War
• What stake did Women, African Americans and Europeans
have in the outcome of the Revolution?
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• Video
• Victory at Saratoga boosted
American spirits, Europeans
realized Americans had a
chance at defeating British
• Franklin and Adams were
in Paris in 1777 petitioning
for French support for
America
• News of Burgoyne's
surrender was instrumental
in formally
bringing France into the
war as an American ally
• Individuals who contributed to American cause:
• Marquis de Lafayette (French-aid to Washington),
• Friedrich von Steuben (German military man),
• Video
• Casimir Pulaski (Polish cavalry officer),
Following a recommendation by Benjamin
Franklin, Pulaski emigrated to North America
to help in the cause of the American
Revolutionary War. He distinguished himself
throughout the revolution, most notably when
he saved the life of George Washington
(Battle of Brandywine). Pulaski became
a general in the Continental Army, created
the Pulaski Cavalry Legionand reformed the
American cavalry as a whole. At the Battle of
Savannah, while leading a daring charge
against British forces, he was gravely
wounded, and died shortly thereafter.
• Thaddeus Ko’sciuszko (Polish engineer),
On learning in France about the
outbreak of the American
Revolutionary War, in 1776
Kościuszko moved to North America,
where he took part in the fighting as
a colonel in the Continental Army. An
accomplished military architect, he
also built state-of-the-art
fortifications, perhaps most notably
at West Point, New York. In 1783, in
recognition of his services,
the Continental Congress promoted
him to brigadier general.
• Juan de Miralles (aid from Spain).
Miralles was chosen in 1777 to
represent Spain as a secret agent
to establish friendly economic
relations. Spain attempted to
remain neutral in Revolutionary
War, but Miralles convinced his
native land to join the American
cause in exchange for the
guarantee that Spain would
control Florida after the war.
Miralles was to be named Spain's
first ambassador to the U.S., but
feel ill with "pulmonic fever" while
visiting Washington's
headquarters in Morristown, N.J.,
and died within days.
• Many Native Americans in west sided with
British-saw them as less of a threat
• Why might they see the British as less of a
threat?
• 1778-George Rogers Clark (American) seized
Kaskaskia (post) in Illinois
• Vincennes (town) in Indiana-Vincennes
recaptured by British and then taken for good by
Clark in 1779
• Ideas of liberty inspired Abigail Adams, who argued for
women’s rights (education especially)
• Women such as Deborah Sampson and Molly Pitcher
contributed to the Revolutionary Cause: Battle of Monmouth
• Loyalists treated poorly-many moved to Britain or Canada
• During the American
Revolutionary War, African
Americans served both
the Continental Army and
the British Army. It is
estimated that 5,000
African Americans served as
soldiers for the Continental
army, while more than
20,000 fought for the British
cause.
• Why would more African
Americans side with the
loyalists?
• Some Africans both enslaved and free wanted to join with the
Patriots, believing that it would either lead to their freedom or
expand their civil rights
• Lord Dunmore, the royal governor of Virginia was determined
to maintain British rule in the southern colonies. On November 7,
1775, he issued a proclamation that he would free black and
white bondsmen who came to fight with the British.
• Sewn on the breast of the uniform was the inscription "Liberty to
Slaves". These slaves were designated as "Lord Dunmore's
Ethiopian Regiment."
• Dunmore's Black soldiers had brought fear to the Patriots. In
December 1775, Washington wrote a letter to Colonel Henry
Lee stating that success in the war would come to whatever side
could arm the blacks the fastest.
• Washington then issued orders to the recruiters to reenlist the
free blacks who had already served in the army.
• He worried that these soldiers may cross over to the British side.
Congress in 1776 agreed with Washington and free blacks
who had already served could be reenlisted. Southern Colonies
refused to enlist African Americans however (South Georgia
and Georgia)