9th class

The American Revolution was not solely a rebellion against British rule; it also intersected with the changing attitudes toward slavery in America.

For a long time:
- Widespread acceptance of slavery; it was common for everyone to own slaves, including Native Americans.
- Slavery was seen as a normal part of life.
Transformation of attitudes toward slavery began:
- Changes started in North America and Europe due to various factors.
- The Quakers emerged as a significant group opposing slavery.

Quakers are primarily associated with Pennsylvania.
- Their opposition to slavery began earlier, reflecting a countercultural stance.
They pressured fellow Quakers who owned slaves to free them based on moral grounds.
Quaker writings from as early as the 1650s include denunciations of slavery, highlighting moral opposition.

In the 1750s, some groups were beginning to question slavery on moral grounds.
- Benjamin Franklin, though initially indifferent toward slavery, became influenced by a Quaker friend who advocated against it.
Cracks in the justification of slavery began emerging as American revolutionaries protested against British oppression, claiming they were being enslaved, which led to questioning of their own practices of slavery.

In Great Britain, a small abolitionist movement was forming, composed of both Black and white individuals advocating for the end of slavery.

The ideological conflict between fighting against oppression while enslaving others was increasingly recognized.
Enslaved individuals were aware of the revolutionary sentiments and began protesting against their own subjugation.

In Charleston, South Carolina (1765):
- White colonists protested the Stamp Act, invoking themes of slavery, while enslaved individuals also protested simultaneously against their own enslavement.

A religious revival known as the Great Awakening occurred between the late 1730s and 1740s:
- Spread of religious fervor also included outreach to enslaved individuals, increasing their Christianization.
- This led to complex dynamics of social and religious identities among both Black and white populations.
Emergence of denominations like Baptists who preached equality, God's salvation for all, and established congregations that included both free and enslaved individuals.

Post-Revolution changes:
- Northern states began to see pressure to act against slavery post-1776.
- Establishment of gradual abolition laws: Slaves born after a specified date would be free at a designated age, typically around their late twenties.

In Massachusetts:
- A slave named Walker petitioned against his new enslaver based on the state constitution's declaration of equality, leading to the abolition of slavery.
- Massachusetts courts recognized this in 1780.

Issued by Virginia's Royal Governor Lord Dunmore:
- Promised freedom to enslaved individuals who joined the British against the revolutionaries.

Many enslaved people attempted to escape to join the British forces, hoping for freedom.
The Continental Army's policy initially excluded Black soldiers but changed due to troop shortages as the war progressed.
Black soldiers began joining various regiments, serving in critical capacities despite initial resistance.

Concluded the Revolutionary War, formally recognizing American independence.
Ben Franklin's diplomatic strategies were central to the favorable outcomes for the U.S. in the treaty negotiations, although loyalist interests were largely overlooked.
The treaty required American recognition of certain debts owed to British creditors, though enforcement was problematic.