History Essay Samples

Diverse Contributions: An Essay Sample on the American Revolution

The American Revolution, which led the country to Independence, resulted from many factors that the 13 colonies drew frustrations from. Although the white male colonists played a pivotal role in the war that led to independence, many groups of people were involved in the War of Independence as they fought for their rights. The efforts of enslaved African Americans were noticeable, as they also took up arms and served in the Continental Army, in line with the colonists’ promise of freedom. Women also played an important role during the Great Awakening and the War of Independence.

The African American Participation in the American Revolutionary War

The black race initially came to America as a commodity during the evil transatlantic slave trade. The transatlantic slave trade, which began in the mid-15th century, spanned Africa, Europe, and the American continents. By the second half of the 16th century, growing political and ideological discontent had developed between Great Britain and the thirteen colonies that, over time, would form the United States of America. This culminated in a full-scale war, ultimately leading to the declaration of full independence from British leadership. Only 50 years later, the contribution of Africans who were still enslaved to the realization of American independence had been forgotten and seldom appreciated. It was not until October 1986 that President Ronald Reagan acknowledged their contribution by signing the Black Revolutionary War Patriots Act into Law. Almost 5,000 enslaved Black people actively served during the American War on both sides of the conflict, depending on the promised package of freedom each party offered.

First, African Americans primarily served in the armies of the revolutionaries. When the army was being formed, George Washington was reluctant to absorb the enslaved Black people into the Continental Army because he feared that availing guns in the hands of the blacks may lead to a slave rebellion. He felt particularly uncomfortable about such a possible outcome since he was also an enslaver. When a British commander in Virginia promised to free enslaved blacks who would serve in his army, George Washington also had to reverse his decision and permit more blacks to join the army. Most blacks, therefore, formed regiments that served in both the army and the navy. Some regiments that drafted the blacks include the Rhode Island Regiment of 1778. Most enslaved people listed for the war were freed later, with George Washington being among those who freed some of his slaves.

The Role of Women in the Great Awakening

The Great Awakening, also known as the evangelical revival in Britain, was a religious revolution in the British American colonies, as well as in Great Britain, during the 1730s-1740s. Started by Yale minister Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield, a British visitor to America, the Great Awakening led to the break-up of most Protestant churches into the Old Light and the New Light ones. It is also said to be a tangible cause of the American Revolution 50 years later. This is because the Great Awakening had an impact on the social structure of the American nation. It advocated for reforms skewed towards equality of the people and freedom; hence, the New Light Evangelists were never ordained. Women played a significant role in the Great Awakening in the British Colonies of America.

Although the role of women in the First Great Awakening is not as documented as their participation in the Second Great Awakening, some achievements of equality and the breaking down of social structures were supported by women preachers in the First Great Awakening. Women became more enthusiastic about social issues and began to think independently. Some women, such as Phyllis Wheatley, a black slave girl of the Whitney family, wrote enlightening and inspiring poems about religious morals during the Great Awakening. Others, like Hanna Heaton of Connecticut, wrote biographies that illustrate a detailed chronology of events during the Great Awakening, recounting her own experience. Finally, Sarah Osborn from Rhode Island provided an account of the spiritual and cultural metamorphosis that occurred at the time. Women, therefore, played a major role during that period, mostly in preparing the writings and documentation of the events.

Daughters of Liberty

Men were at the waterfront during the Revolutionary War, fighting the Royal Army hand-to-hand. However, as the Revolutionary War approached, protests and boycotts were held in the thirteen colonies by the Sons of Liberty against the British government’s leadership and taxation acts, such as the Townshend Act of 1767 and the Stamp Act, which had been in effect much earlier. The taxation was seen as mistreatment by the Kingdom of Britain, which was miles away from America. Therefore, this inappropriate taxation can be considered one of the primary reasons for the growing dissent against the British leadership and, thus, be viewed as a contributing factor to the outbreak of full-scale war.

While the Sons of Liberty held such protests and boycotted imported British goods entering the thirteen colonies, the Daughters of Liberty formed a group to display their loyalty to the noble cause of boycotting British goods. The Daughters of Liberty refused to serve or drink British tea as long as the Townshend tax was in effect. They were also skilled enough to weave wool and yarn to produce cloth, thus reducing the Americans’ dependence on British textiles. Their efforts, therefore, helped sustain the boycotts for far too long. As the war began, the Daughters of Liberty demonstrated their loyalty by providing food and other essential resources to the soldiers in the field. Some renowned Daughters of Liberty include Abigail Adams, Deborah Sampson, and Esther de Berdt. Finally, as illustrated, some women also joined the army as soldiers.

Conclusion

African American and women’s efforts have been overlooked in the writing of American History. Africans served in the regiments and the navy formed by the Continental Army. Women also participated in the Great Awakening and contributed to the army’s efforts during the War of Independence. Their contribution to the great idea of gaining independence was immense, as they were among those enthusiasts who believed they could change the world and succeed.

📎 References:

1. Barton, Michael, and Larry Logue. 2002. The Civil War Soldier. New York University Press.
2. Benfield, Barker. 1998. Portraits of American Women: From Settlement to the Present. Oxford University Press.
3. Berkin, Carol. 2007. Revolutionary Mothers: Women in the Struggle for America’s Independence. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.
4. Brekus, Catherine. 2017. Sarah Osborn’s World: The Rise of Evangelical Christianity in Early America. Yale University Press.
5. Carretta, Vincent. 2014. Phillis Wheatley: Biography of a Genious in Bondage. University of Georgia Press.
6. Clinton, Catherine. 2010. The Plantation Mistress. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.
7. Culpepper, Marilyn. 2014. All Things Altered: Women in the Wake of Civil War and Reconstruction. McFarland.
8. Egerton, Douglas. 2011. Death Or Liberty: African Americans and Revolutionary America. Oxford University Press.
9. Lanning, Michael. 2005. African Americans in the Revolutionary War. Kensington Publishing Group.
10. Micklos, John. 2013. American Indians and African Americans of the American Revolution- Through Primary Sources. Enslow Publishers, Inc.