USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Fact #1: Numbers in the Overall Population. At the onset of the War for Independence, approximately 500, 000 African Americans lived in the colonies, of whom some 450, 000 (90 percent) were enslaved.

Detailed explanation-2: -The American Revolution had profound effects on the institution of slavery. Several thousand slaves won their freedom by serving on both sides of the War of Independence. As a result of the Revolution, a surprising number of slaves were manumitted, while thousands of others freed themselves by running away.

Detailed explanation-3: -During the American Revolution African American men, both enslaved and free fought in the Continental Army. Black soldiers served in mostly integrated units at this time. The First Rhode Island Regiment is the most famous regiment that included African Americans during the American Revolution.

Detailed explanation-4: -In South Carolina (Carolina was divided in 1663 into the North Carolina region and South Carolina region and into two colonies in 1701), however, slaves constituted a larger proportion of the total population than in any other colony-sixty percent of the population in 1765.

Detailed explanation-5: -Slavery in the South At that date, 293, 000 slaves lived in Virginia alone, making up 42 percent of all slaves in the U.S. at the time. South Carolina, North Carolina, and Maryland each had over 100, 000 slaves.