Intro Paragraph:

The American Revolution in 1775 was a historical event in which the American colonies
claimed freedom and independence from the British Empire. Underneath the surface,
the American Revolution spread roots across deeper issues such as labour rights,
economic turmoil, racial discrimination and American propaganda and patriotism. No
figure in American history had such a significant impact on these four quarters of the
American identity as Crispus Attucks. As the catalyst of the American Revolution,
Crispus Attucks was an advocate for social change and national assertion in the face of
British Tyranny. As a result, he became a symbol of American freedom throughout his
life, and of racial equality in his legacy.

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Crispus Attucks was an African American, Bostonian, fugitive who had once been
a slave but had escaped and now worked as a dockworker. The citizens of
Boston were frustrated with the constant political, social, and economic problems
created by Britain. Boston dockworkers were particularly irritated because of the
increased presence of British soldiers at the docks. This irritation lead to riot which
would become known as the Boston Massacre which took place March 5, 1770.
Crispus lead a group of forty to fifty men brandishing clubs, snowballs, and
rocks. This riot would lead to the death of Crispus Attucks and four other colonists.
Crispus Attucks became an instant martyr for liberty and would be immortalized by
citizens of Boston who would forever remember the heroic African American who was
“the first to defy, the first to die.” Propagandist such as Samuel Adams would use this
event dubbing it a massacre as a way to spur American feelings against Britain.
Samuel Adams effectively changed the view point of many Bostonians by using
Crispus Attucks. The bravery and attentions of Crispus Attucks were stretched by
American patriots but had the intended affect. This event changed the relationship
of Colonial American and Britain and is seen as a major cause of the revolution.
Although Crispus Attucks is often remembered for his role in the starting of the
American revolution. Crispus Attucks is also remembered for the role he played in
providing a hero to enslaved African Americans who was also respect by white
Americans. Crispus Attucks fight for freedom united both white and black Americans
both fighting for freedoms but a freedom of different nature. This event was of major
importance to the cause of the American revolution. Crispus Attucks became an
instant hero for the Bostonians who remembered him as a man who had the
determination to stand up against the British. Crispus Attucks inspired a country
which was supported by slavery and black oppression. ----- (repetitive and
unrelated)

Defending the soldiers was John Adams who would later become the second president
of the United States he argued the soldiers were simply doing their duty, acting out of
fear. John Adams turned Crispus Attucks into a villain, “He had the Hardiness to fall
upon them and with one hand took a bayonet, and with the other knocked the man
down” to defend his case. Although the soldiers were acquitted of the charges American
passion flared.

Crispus Attucks was able to inspire the colony of Boston despite its racial
and discriminative ways. "He is one of the most important figures in African-American
history, not for what he did for his own race but for what he did for all oppressed people
everywhere. He is a reminder that the African-American heritage is not only African but
American and it is a heritage that begins with the beginning of America." Crispus lead a
group of whites in a stand for liberty. Crispus Attucks united blacks and whites
on the issues of the injustices of Crispus death and the cruelty of the British. (I do
not want it to sound like because of Crispus Attucks blacks and whites became
equal they were still discriminated against but they were united on this issue. “It
was not long after the ʻMassacreʼ that the people found out that the slain leader was in
reality a mulatto who went by the name Crispus Attucks. Surprisingly the radicals did not
care, black, red, or white, martyr was a martyr. Whatever the deceased might have
been in life, however insignificant or vicious, in death Attucks and the other four
men became murdered monuments to British oppression. Crispus Attucks became
a symbolic representative for the slogan “Liberty or death.” The slogan was used by
American patriots throughout the Revolutionary, keeping the memory of Attucks alive.
Blacks and white for the first time were united (not really but its hard to explain
things were still the same accept Crispus Attucks was a hero to both of them.)
both saw Crispus as a protect of liberty.

Attucks memory would live on and would be remembered through the

response of the citizens of Boston. The sacrifices of the men who had died for
liberty would be forever remembered. (Awkward) A service was held for the brave
victims of the massacre. Boston abolitionist Wendell Phillips stated on the first such
occasion, "I place...this Crispus Attucks in the foremost rank of the men that dared." In
Boston stores closed, church bells rang, and thousands of people from all different
backgrounds and economic statuses gathered to pay their respects to there hero.
Propagandist would use this event to get people to change people opinion on the
British parliament and to motivate people to fight for American independence.
The death of Crispus Attucks had it its desired its effect with the war starting only
five years after. Protest turned developed into armed conflict in which the burning
memories of the injustices towards Crispus Attucks by the British were
remembered at the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Which was fought by both
African Americans and whites. ------ DO you think this part is in the right area if
you donʼʼt where should it it go and where should the rest of th paragraph go

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“The Blood of Attucks nourished the tree of liberty,” for blacks Crispus Attucks
impact was immediate. (Poor sentence structure?) He had become more then a
war hero, he had become an inspiration to the American blacks representing the
pursuit of freedom and respect through and uncompromisable determination..
Enslaved Africans had a hero who was once a slaved but through his own efforts and
determinations was able to take his freedom. For “his spirit doubtless spurred New
England Blacks to openly question the anomaly of human bondage in a nation about to
be born and fighting for its independence under the slogan ʻLiberty or Death!ʼ” Enslaved
Blacks increase the number of petitions to government officials a direct result of the
impact of Crispus Attucks. Slaves saw the irony of America wanting independence but
being a country that enslaved its own people. In a letter addressed to the governor, one
slave wrote, “We expect great things from men who have made such a noble stand
against the designs of their fellow-men to enslave them.” Attucks represent an enslaved
oppressed people of African Americans that now saw their freedom and liberty as a
possibility. Through his death Attucks unified African Americans in the belief of equality
and freedom. Attucks had turned into a symbol, providing hope to the enslaved blacks
of America. Crispus Attucks was able to stand up against British oppression rise above
a much stronger a British force and succeed. Leading Blacks to consider armed conflict
and rebellion as the only way to earn equality and freedom. (Paragraph structure, like
sentences need to flow better needs work) Also where should I put the fact that blacks
saw Crispus Attucks fighting and they saw the fact that he earned the respect of whites
and so the want to fight.

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The original method of defense used by the colonyʼs were militias which lacked
diversity and agreed on the exclusion of the majority of African American from service
in the colonial militias. Two reasons caused this lack of diversity firstly since the majority
of the Africans in America were enslaved, many believed that the slaveʼs service to his
master took prominence over any service that slave could provide to the colony as a
militiaman. Second, there was the obvious fear of arming a portion of the population
many of whom were enslaved and the rest treated as second class citizens. European
colonial leaders recognized and realized they could take advantage of this turning the
mistreated African Americans against the Patriots.

The Continental army was an army formed by the colonies at the beginning of the
Revolutionary war. The Continental Army is significant because of its use of African
Americans in service as a result of the a declining number of willing white Americans to
fight. Leaders of Congress agreed the shortage to be filled by blacks. American military
leaders used the free African American population as soldiers recognizing there
potential to fight for their liberties. Creating integrated units to fight the oppressive and
much stronger British forces. Despite extreme racism and hostilities African Americans
were (???) dealt with they were willing to fight, this they believed would earn them the
respect of their fellow white Americans.

While at the same time blacks were also fighting for certain Liberties such as equality.
In order to defend its self the American colonies used the British militia system for the
defense of the colonies.

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In the South the British had been attempting to lure slaves away from their
masters. Lord Dunmore issued the Dunmore proclamation November 7, 1775 with the
goal of fueling his numbers, effecting the economy of the South, and creating chaos in
the colonies forcing them to abandon the revolution. The proclamation led to the
formation of the Royal Ethiopian Regiment which was a regiment consisting of primarily
blacks. The proclamation was followed with another, the Philipsburg proclamation
issued by Sir Henry Clinton four years after the Dunmore Proclamation stating that any
enslaved person who deserted his rebel master would find protection with the British.
He also warned that any African American soldier fighting for the rebels who were
captured would be purchased for the public service.

Lord Cornwallis, on his march from the Carolinas to Virginia in 1780 and 1781 attracted
many slaves who believed that his army offered them freedom from servitude. Corwallis
refused for them to bear arms and put them to work as laborers where many died from
disease. Attempt to disrupt the slaveholding Southʼs rhythm. American leaders were
considering the enlistment of thousands of southern enslaved African Americans as
well.

Washington, having realized the detrimental effects that Dunmoreʼs proclamation would
have on the existing American army (in terms of numbers), quickly reversed the policy
that he once implemented; now stating that all African American could enlist.

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Although African Americans were victims of racism and discrimination they were
still taking a significant role in the hostilities in and around the British controlled Boston.
Such as Crispus Attucks who had been was killed first in the Boston Massacre. Others
include Prince Estabrook at the Battle of Lexington and Concord or Peter Salem at the
Battle of Bunker Hill June 1775. Poor was honored for his bravery famously killing the
British Major John Pitcairn. His commanding commemorate Poor by saying he “behave
like an experienced officer, as well as an excellent soldier...in the person of this said
Negro centers a brave and gallant soldier.” In 1775 a militia from New England region
held the British in Boston in check. This force would become the nucleus of the
American Continental Army. Among the militiamen in service around Boston were men
of African descent. General John Thomas stated that “We have some Negroes but I look
upon them as equally serviceable with other men, for fatigue and in action” and that
“many of them proved themselves brave.ʼ 1776 New York was under attack General
William Alexander ordered all able bodied African Americans to work alongside
Continental Army troops who were preparing the cityʼs defenses. New Enlgand. With
continuing Quotas set by congress. States, particularly New England had to allowed for
anyone who volunteered for service to enlist including slaves. John Adams wrote that
America should “set Liberty before their eyes as the Reward of their Valor and... we
should find them sufficiently brave.” Virtually every Brigade at least one African
American and most had considerably more then that. African Americans were a
noticeable presence in practically every continental Army unit. The highest proportion of
African Americans, one was a southern brigade.