agip wrote:
I'm reading a mainstream history of the revolution...one of the saddest parts is how many runaway slaves and freed slaves were desperate to have the English win the war. Many joined the fight alongside the redcoats or assisted from the sidelines. They knew the Americans were monsters when it came to slavery and didn't want them in charge of the nation.
And the Brits tried (half-heartedly) to inspire slave rebellions in the South.
Totally depressing.
That starts to come back to the "1619 Project" thesis which is that slavery might have ended earlier had the British retained control of the colonies. They outlawed it nationally in 1807 and in all colonies in 1833. The debate, as I understand it, is how much effect the British anti-slavery movement had in precipitating the American revolution or at least the southern colonies involvement in it. "1619 Project" material promotes it as a greater factor than is commonly taught.