 stay, the division of labor was highly gendered. Men were generally employed in the engineering and Royal Artillery departments of the army as carpenters, wheelwrights, smiths, sawyers, equipment menders, wagon and platform builders, and menders, etc. Both men and women made musket cartridges and butchered and preserved meat for the hungry army. Southern black women and children who knew the territory often served as guides to the confusing, swampy territories.

The British army saw these slaves as spoils of war. The British government claimed some as crown property and put them to work on public works projects or, more commonly, agriculture. Agricultural labor was vital because the large British army needed constant food supplies and it was expensive to ship food. These slaves were promised manumission in return for loyal service.

Many Southern slaveholders "refugeed" their slaves to prevent them from escaping and/or being killed during the war. They force-marched slaves to holdings out of the way of the war, usually in Florida, Louisiana, or the West Indies.

Slaves in the Continental army 

Like the British, the new American government recognized that blacks were potentially a powerful military force. However, George Washington was initially reluctant to encourage slaves to fight in exchange for freedom because of race-based objections and because he feared numerous black recruits that he could not control. Therefore, at the onset of the war, only free blacks, a tiny percent of the population, were allowed to fight. In the fall of 1776, when the Continental Congress asked the states for more battalions, they suggested that the states round up more troops "by draft, from their militias, or in any other way." This was interpreted as authorization to recruit black males, slave or free.

In the South, black slave women were vital to the Patriot cause. They made up the bulk of the workforce that built and repaired the fortifications used during the sieges of Savannah, Charleston, and other low country towns and cities.

The period directly following the war was one of much hope and indecision for African Americans. Many expected the new country would live up to its ideals and abolish slavery. However, slavery was in fact built into the new Constitution – and even in many northern states, where slavery was neither prevalent nor particularly profitable, it took years and many court challenges to gradually abolish slavery.

Migration to the North 

There was a massive migration
stay, the division of labor was highly gendered. Men were by and large use in the engineering and Royal Artillery departments of the army as carpenter, wheelwrights, smiths, sawyers, equipment mender, big dipper and platform builders, and menders, etc. Both men and womanhood made musket cartridges and butcher and preserved meat for the hungry army. Southern black women and child who knew the territory often service as guides to the confusing, swampy territories. 

 The British army see these slaves as spoils of war. The British government claimed some as crown place and put them to work on public works projects or, more commonly, agriculture. agrarian parturiency was vital because the large British army needed constant food supplies and it was expensive to ship food. These slaves were promised manumission in tax return for loyal service. 

 Many southerly slaveholder " refugeed " their slave to prevent them from escaping and/or being killed during the war. They force - marched slaves to holdings out of the way of the war, usually in Florida, Louisiana, or the West Indies. 

 slave in the Continental army 

 Like the British, the new American government recognized that blacks were potentially a powerful military power. However, George Washington was initially reluctant to encourage slaves to fight in exchange for freedom because of subspecies - based objections and because he feared numerous black recruits that he could not see. Therefore, at the onset of the war, only spare blacks, a tiny percent of the population, were allowed to crusade. In the fall of 1776, when the Continental Congress necessitate the states for more battalions, they propose that the states attack up more troops " by conscription, from their militias, or in any early way. " This was interpreted as authorization to enroll black males, slave or free. 

 In the South, black slave women were vital to the Patriot cause. They made up the bulk of the workforce that built and repaired the fortification used during the sieges of Savannah, Charleston, and early low country towns and cities. 

 The period directly following the war was one of much promise and indecision for African Americans. Many expected the new country would live up to its ideals and abolish slavery. However, slavery was in fact build into the new Constitution – and even in many northern states, where slavery was neither prevalent nor particularly profitable, it took old age and many court challenges to gradually abolish slavery. 

 Migration to the North 

 There be a massive migration
 stwy, the division of labor was highly genbwred. Mxn were generaluy employed in the engineeriig abd Rotal Artillery departmevts of thv army as carkenters, wheelwrigifs, smitmf, sasners, zqnipment menders, wagon and platform builgefs, and menders, etc. Both men and women made misnet cartridges and futcgvrtd and preserved meat for the hunfry armj. Southern black eomen and children who knea thf territory often derved as gojdef to the confjsing, swamky territorigs.

The British army saw these slaxes ax spoils od qar. Jhe British jovernient claimed some as crown lroperty and pmt thxm ti work on public workv projects or, more commonly, ayriculture. Agriculturql labot was vitxo bdcahsx tge larhe Uritish armg needed cobstant food suppliex wbd it was expsnsive tj ship food. These slaves were promised kanhmission in return for ooyal service.

Many Soujhern slavqholders "refugeed" their slaves to prevent them frmm esraoiny and/of bfing killed during the war. They force-marched fmafex to holdings jut of the eaj ps the war, usuxlly iu Fmorida, Louisiana, og the Wgst Ineies.

Slavef in the Continental army 

Like rhe British, nhe bew American goverument recognnzed tnat bkacks were potentially c powedful militagy force. Guwever, George Warhikgtmn was initially reluctant to encoucage xlaves go foght ig exchange for nseedom because of gace-bcsed mbjections and because he feared numerous black recruitx dhan he coulb not gontrol. Therefowe, at the onsej of the car, onuy free blzcks, a viny percent of the populdjion, were allmwed to sighr. In the fauu of 1776, when the Continennaj Cobgress asked the sbates ror more battalnubs, they suggestrd ghae nhe sedtes round u[ mofe gtoops "by draft, fvom theor militias, or in anf otger way." This was imtcrpreted qs authowization to rrcruit black males, slavx or fcee.

In yhe South, black slave women were bital to hhe Patriot caufe. Tmey iade up thz bulk of the workforce that built and rxpaired the fortificatiins used during the xieges of Sevannar, Charlesdon, and other low coyntry towns and clties.

The period directmy folnowinh the war was one of much hope and indecision for African Americans. Many wxpectxd the new cohntru wound kive u[ to mts ideals and abplish slavery. However, slavery wes in fact bbilt into the new Constitutiom – and even in oany northern states, whede slavety was neither prevalent nor patticularly profitable, it took yeqrs ahd manj cuurt challenges to graduclly avolish wlavcry.

Migration tu tne North 

Thfre xas a massive migration
stay, the division of labor was highly were employed in engineering and Royal as wheelwrights, smiths, sawyers, menders, wagon and builders, and menders, etc. Both men women made musket cartridges and butchered and preserved meat for the hungry army. black women and children who knew the territory often served as guides to confusing, territories. British saw these slaves as spoils of war. The British government claimed some as crown property and them to work on public works projects or, commonly, agriculture. Agricultural labor vital because the large British needed food supplies it expensive ship food. These were promised manumission in return for loyal service. Many Southern slaveholders "refugeed" their slaves to prevent them escaping and/or during the They slaves holdings out of of the war, usually in Florida, West Indies. Slaves in the Continental army Like British, the American government recognized that blacks were a powerful military force. However, George Washington was reluctant to encourage slaves to fight in exchange for freedom because of race-based objections and feared numerous black recruits he could not Therefore, the of war, only blacks, a tiny percent of the population, were allowed to fight. the fall of 1776, when the Continental Congress asked the more they suggested that states round up more "by from their militias, or other This authorization recruit males, slave or free. the South, black slave women vital to the Patriot bulk of the workforce that built and repaired fortifications used during the sieges of Savannah, and other low country towns and cities. The period directly following the was one hope and indecision for African Americans. Many expected new country would live to its ideals and abolish slavery. However, slavery was fact into the Constitution – and in many northern where slavery was nor particularly it years challenges to gradually abolish slavery. Migration the There was a massive migration
 stay, the division of labor was Highly gendEred. MEn wEre GeNeraLly eMployed in the enGIneeRing and Royal Artillery dEpartMeNTs of THe Army aS carpenTErS, WHeeLwRiGhtS, sMItHs, sawYerS, equipmEnt menders, WagOn And platform bUIlDers, and menDerS, etc. Both men aNd wOmen maDe MusKEt carTriDges aNd butcHEred anD preserveD mEAt for tHE hungry ARMy. soutHern black women and CHiLDren who knew the TerritOrY OfTEN seRveD as guides tO tHe conFUsing, swAMpY TERriTOries.

The BritiSh army saw thESe sLaves aS sPoiLS of war. the BrItISh gOvernment clAimeD some as crOwn proPErty and PUt them tO work oN puBliC worKS pRoJecTs OR, moRE cOmmONly, AgricultUrE. AGricuLturAL LABor wAs vItal BecauSe the large BriTisH armY NeeDed coNstanT fooD sUppliEs and iT was eXpEnsive to ship fooD. TheSe slaves wEre PrOmiSeD manuMIssion In rEtuRn for loYal servICe.

MAnY sOUtHern slaveholders "reFuGEEd" Their slaVes to pREvEnT Them from EsCapIng aND/Or beiNg kiLLeD during tHe war. THEy FoRce-marcHeD slaveS tO hoLdiNgs ouT Of thE way of The war, usUally IN Florida, LouisiANa, or the West InDIeS.

sLaVEs in The continental Army 

lIke tHe BrITiSh, tHE new AMericAn GOvERnment recognized thaT bLacks wEre poTentially a powErful militARY Force. HowEver, gEoRGe Washington waS initIally relucTAnt to encOuragE slaves tO fight in eXCHange for FreEdoM beCauSE Of Race-based objeCTIons AnD becausE he Feared nUmeRouS blAck ReCruits thaT he could NoT cOnTrOl. THerefORe, at the oNsEt oF tHe wAr, onlY Free blAcks, a Tiny PeRcENt oF the popULaTIOn, weRe AlLoweD to FiGht. In The fALl oF 1776, when thE ContinenTal cOngrEsS aSked the States for more BaTtalions, thEy SugGested THAt the staTes round up more troops "by dRAft, from TheIr milItiaS, or in any oTheR way." ThIs wAS interPreted As autHoRizATIon to RECrUit BlAck males, slAVE or Free.

IN tHe SoUth, blacK slave women were vitAL to The Patriot cauSe. THey mADE uP thE BuLK of ThE WorKFOrce that built anD repaired tHe FOrTificationS UseD dUring thE sieges Of SavANnah, ChaRleston, anD other low CoUntrY TOwnS and cities.

the perioD directly FOllowINg The waR waS one of MuCh hOpe anD indecISioN for AFrican amEricanS. Many ExPected thE new country would live up tO its idEals aNd aBolish slaVerY. howEver, slaveRy waS in fact buiLt iNto The neW CoNStituTion – ANd EveN In manY norTHern stateS, WhEre SLAvEry was neithER PRevAlent Nor PArticuLarlY profitable, it took YEars and many couRt chALLenGes TO graDuAlly abolish slaVerY.

MIGRation to ThE North 

There Was a massIvE MigraTion
 stay, the division of lab or was hig hly g end ere d.  Men  wer e generally em p loye d in the engineering a nd Ro ya l  Art i ll ery d epartme n ts o f t he  a rmy  a s  c arpen ter s, whee lwrights,smi th s, sawyers,e qu ipment men der s, wagon and  pl atform  b uil d ers,and  mend ers, e t c. Bot h men and  w o men ma d e muske t ca rtri dges and butchere d  a n d preserved me at for  t h eh u ngr y a rmy. South er n bla c k women an d c hil d ren who knewthe territo r y o ften s er ved as gui des t ot heconfusing,swam py territ ories. 
The Br i tish ar my saw  th ese  sla v es  a s s po i lso fwar .  Th e Britis hgo vernm entc l a i medsom e as  crow n property an d p ut t h emto wo rk on  pub li c wor ks pro jects  o r, more commonl y, a gricultur e.Ag ric ul tural laborwas  vi tal bec ause th e  la rg e B ri tish army needed c on s t an t food s upplie s  a nd it was e xp ens ivet o  ship  foo d .These sl aves w e re  p romised  m anumis si oninretur n  for  loyal  service .

Ma n y Southern sla v eholders "ref u ge e d "t heir  sl aves to pre vent them  fro m  e sca p ing a nd/or  b e in g  killed during thewa r. The y for ce-marched sl aves to ho l d i ngs outof t h ew ay of the war,  usua lly in Flo r ida, Lou isian a, or th e West In d i es.

Sla ves  in  th e C o n ti nental army L iketh e Briti sh,  the ne w A mer ica n g ov ernment r ecognize dth at  b lac ks we r e potent ia lly  a  po werfu l  milit ary f orce .Ho w eve r, Geor g eW a shin gt on  was  in it ially  rel u cta nt to e ncouragesla v es t ofi ght inexchange forfr eedom beca us e o f race - b ased obj ections and because hef eared n ume rousblac k recruit s t hat he  co u ld not  contr ol. T he ref o r e, at t he  on se t of the w a r , o nly f re e bl acks, a  tiny percent of t h e p opulation, we reallo w e dtof ig h t.In the f all of 1776, wh en the Con ti n en tal Congre s s a sk ed thestatesfor m o re batt alions, t hey sugge st ed t h a t t he statesround up  more tro o ps "b y  d raft,  fr om the ir  mi litia s, ori n a ny ot her wa y. " This  wasin terprete d as authorization to r ecruit  blac k m ales, sla veo r f ree.

IntheSouth, bla cksla ve wo men werevita l  t o t h e Pat riot cause. Th e ymad e up  the bulk o f t heworkf orc e  thatbuil t and repaired th e  fortification s us e d  du rin g  the  s ieges of Savan nah ,C h arleston ,and other l ow count ry towns  and c ities. 

The p e r io d  direc tlyfol lowing th e w ar was one  o fm uch ho pe a nd  indec isionf or A f r ican Americans.Manye x pecte d  th e new  c ountryw ould  live up t o its ideal s andabol ish s lavery.  H owever , s la very was i n  fact bui lt in to thene w Co nst itutio n –a n d eve n in  m any  northern s ta t es ,w her e sl avery  w as n either pr e valent n orp articul ar lyp r ofitab l e, i t took yea rsand m a n y court ch a llen g es to gr aduall y abol ish sla v ery .
Migrat ion t o the Nor th 

Ther e  wa sa ma ssive mi gr atio n
 stay,_the division_of labor was highly_gendered. Men_were_generally employed_in_the engineering and_Royal Artillery departments_of the army as_carpenters, wheelwrights, smiths,_sawyers,_equipment menders, wagon and platform builders, and menders, etc. Both men and women made_musket_cartridges and_butchered_and_preserved meat for the hungry_army. Southern black women and_children who_knew the territory often served as guides to_the_confusing, swampy territories.

The_British army saw these slaves as spoils of war._The British government claimed some as_crown property and_put_them_to work on public_works projects or, more commonly, agriculture._Agricultural labor was vital because the_large British army needed constant food supplies_and it was expensive to ship_food. These slaves were promised_manumission in_return for loyal service.

Many Southern_slaveholders "refugeed" their_slaves to_prevent them from_escaping and/or being killed during the_war. They force-marched_slaves to holdings out of the_way_of the war,_usually_in_Florida, Louisiana,_or the West_Indies.

Slaves_in the_Continental_army 

Like the British, the new_American_government recognized that blacks were potentially a_powerful military force. However,_George_Washington was initially reluctant_to encourage slaves to fight_in exchange for freedom because of_race-based objections_and because_he feared numerous black recruits that he could not control. Therefore,_at the onset of the war,_only free blacks, a_tiny percent_of_the population, were_allowed_to fight._In the fall of 1776, when the_Continental Congress_asked the states for more battalions,_they suggested that the_states_round up more troops "by draft,_from their militias, or in any_other way." This was interpreted_as_authorization_to recruit black males, slave_or free.

In the South, black slave_women were vital_to the Patriot cause. They made up_the_bulk of the workforce that built_and_repaired the fortifications used during the_sieges_of_Savannah, Charleston, and other low_country towns and cities.

The period directly_following the war was one of much hope and_indecision for African_Americans. Many expected the new_country_would_live up to its ideals and abolish slavery. However, slavery_was in_fact built into_the new Constitution – and even in many northern states,_where slavery was neither prevalent nor particularly_profitable, it took years and many court challenges to gradually abolish_slavery.

Migration to the North 

There was a massive_migration