African-American Soldiers in the Revolutionary War (We the People: Revolution and the New Nation)

Enslaved African-Americans fought on both sides of the Revolutionary War. More than 100,000 slaves fought with the loyalists, while others protested British presence on the patriot side. Initially, only free blacks were permitted to join the patriot cause, but eventually slaves took part, fighting both side-by-side with slaveholders and in all-black units. Many played prominent roles in famous battles such as Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, and Brandywine; still, none ever rose above the rank of private.