Crispus Attucks being shot during the Boston Massacre.

(John Bufford after William L. Champey, circa 1856)[6]

African Americans were an integral part of the revolutionary war for the Americans. They served as soldiers, guides, messengers and spies. They fought in key battles for the Americans such as in April 1775 at Lexington and Concord as well as The Battle of Bunker Hill. Whether the African Americans were enslaved or not, many of them wanted to fight for the Patriots with the idea that it may lead to freedom or more rights.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Americans_in_the_Revolutionary_War#African_American_Patriots

Image of Black Loyalists in the American

Revolution.

The British did use African Americans as laborers, skilled workers, foragers and spies. Except for those blacks who joined Lord Dunmore's Ethiopian Regiment, there were only a few blacks who served in the British army while the fighting was concentrated in the North. It was not until the final months of the war, when manpower was low that blacks were used for fighting for Britain.

Continental frigates Hancock and Boston capturing

British frigate Fox, June 7, 1777

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_navy

Man Power was short in the Patriots Navy so African Americans were recruited. However, both sides signed African Americans into their navy. For the rebels the Africans had the ability to pilot the vessels and take responsibility of the ammunition on board the ships.

On the British side the Africans were much more willing and able to work. Mainly because the British soldiers were arrogant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Americans_in_the_Revolutionary_War#African_American_Sailors

And I hereby further declare all indented servants, Negroes, or others (appertaining to Rebels) free, that are able and willing to bear arms, they joining His Majesty's Troops, as soon as may be, for the more speedily reducing the Colony to a proper sense of their duty, to this Majesty's crown and dignity.

-- Lord Dunmore's Proclamation

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2narr4.html

During the American Revolution, slaves made up at least 25 percent of the population of N.C. In reality, blacks totaled perhaps seventy thousand but only about 5 percent were free. Most Black people lived in the countryside and worked on land. Some worked at trades or were servants to slave holders. Skilled slaves worked as carpenters, coopers, blacksmiths, wheelwrights, and other skill requiring occupations. In towns on the coast they worked in the shipping business.

Blacks faced difficult choices with the war. They fought for both sides, providing manpower to both the British and the revolutionaries. Most believed that victory by the British would lead to the end of their slavery, especially with the new rule the British had of allowing the black people to fight for them in return for freedom.

Fears of a slave revolt gripped the South. Before the war, British military leaders recognized that the southern colonies could be greatly weakened by an uprising of slaves against their masters.

http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-revolution/1917

In the beginning of the Revolutionary war only a few militia’s had Black soldiers, mainly due to the fact that most colonies did not allow blacks to fight. Though, towards the end of the war, after the British initiated the rule that if Blacks fought for the British then they would be freed, the Colonies began to allow Black people to fight in the war.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://negroartist.com/REVOLUTIONAY%2520WAR/images/During%2520the%2520American%2520Revolution,%2520most%2520militia%2520units%2520had%2520black%2520soldiers%2520among%2520the%2520ranks_%2520The%2520Continental%2520Army%2520initially%2520refused%2520to%2520enlist%2520African%2520Americans_jpg.jpg&imgrefurl=http://negroartist.com/REVOLUTIONAY%2520WAR/pages/During%2520the%2520American%2520Revolution,%2520most%2520militia%2520units%2520had%2520black%2520soldiers%2520among%2520the%2520ranks_%2520The%2520Continental%2520Army%2520initially%2520refused%2520to%2520enlist%2520African%2520Americans_jpg.htm&usg=__9HNtDyKmMhknF-Y0ROdoPq8BFVk=&h=309&w=300&sz=38&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=8AVlss9CNUJutM:&tbnh=147&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3DAfrican%2BAmerican%2Bsoldiers%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bamerican%2Brevolution%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1388%26bih%3D906%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=424&ei=xxqjTOP9MsH88AbIqqXFCQ&oei=xxqjTOP9MsH88AbIqqXFCQ&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=35&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0&tx=57&ty=78

Cripus Attucks was a black slave and dock worker who played an important role in the fight for independence. In 1770, a group of angry people gathered in front of the Custom House on King Street. The group had accused a soldier of using the butt of his gun on a boy who made slurrin gremarks to his officer. The British officer, Captain Preston that day, and eight other British soldiers came to the aid of the one accused. The town fire-bell rang causing more people to come into the street and they were all throwing snowballs at the soldiers. The soldiers panicked and killed five civilians. Cripus Attucks was one of them.

http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/2004_summer_fall/soldiers.htm