Black Patriots and Loyalists

Black Patriots and Loyalists examines the two competing liberation movements during the American Revolution - one for American independence from Britain, and another for African American emancipation from slavery. The book focuses on the choices and experiences of Black Americans who fought on both sides of the conflict. Gilbert draws on primary sources and military records to reconstruct how enslaved people navigated their options during the war, with some joining the British forces who promised freedom, while others served in the Continental Army. The narrative tracks major battles, political developments, and social changes that impacted Black soldiers and civilians throughout the Revolutionary period. The work challenges conventional accounts of the American Revolution by placing abolition and Black military service at the center rather than the periphery of the story. It reveals complex motivations that drove people's allegiances and tracks the gradual emergence of emancipation movements in both the British and American camps. The book speaks to enduring questions about freedom, loyalty, and the true scope of American independence by highlighting the parallel struggles for liberty that shaped the Revolution's outcome. Its dual focus on patriotism and emancipation provides a more complete understanding of this pivotal historical moment.

Readers note this book reveals overlooked aspects of the American Revolution by documenting how both British and American forces recruited Black soldiers with promises of freedom. Many reviewers appreciate the extensive primary source research and focus on perspectives not covered in standard history texts. Readers value: - Detailed documentation of Black military contributions - Analysis of competing emancipation offers from both sides - Coverage of post-war outcomes for Black soldiers Common criticisms: - Dense academic writing style - Repetitive arguments and examples - Organization can be confusing to follow Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (43 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (22 ratings) As one Amazon reviewer states: "Important historical content but the writing is dry and often circular." A Goodreads reviewer notes: "The research is impressive but the narrative structure made it challenging to track the chronology of events."

The Negro in the American Revolution by Sidney Kaplan This research examines both free and enslaved African Americans who fought on both sides of the American Revolution, documenting their roles and motivations in the conflict.

Liberty's Exiles by Maya Jasanoff The text follows the lives and experiences of Loyalists who fled America after the Revolution, including Black Loyalists who settled in Nova Scotia, Sierra Leone, and Britain.

Race and Revolution by Gary B. Nash The work analyzes the intersection of slavery, abolition, and revolutionary ideology during America's founding era.

Slave Nation by Alfred W. Blumrosen, Ruth G. Blumrosen This study reveals how the preservation of slavery influenced key decisions during the American Revolution and the Constitutional Convention.

The Counter-Revolution of 1776 by Gerald Horne The book reframes the American Revolution as a conservative counter-revolution fought partly to preserve slavery against British abolitionist threats.

🔷 Author Alan Gilbert discovered that the British Army freed and enlisted significantly more enslaved people during the American Revolution than previously thought - approximately 20,000 rather than the commonly cited 5,000. 🔷 The book challenges traditional narratives by showing there were two simultaneous revolutionary movements: the fight for American independence and a less-known revolution against slavery. 🔷 Many Black Patriots who fought for the American cause were promised freedom but never received it, while the British kept better records and more consistently honored their promises of emancipation. 🔷 The British evacuation of Charleston in 1782 included more than 5,000 Black Loyalists who escaped slavery - the largest single emancipation in American history before the Civil War. 🔷 The book received the American Book Award from the Before Columbus Foundation in 2013 for its groundbreaking contribution to understanding the complexity of the American Revolution.