(the29thtn, SWR. "My response was to write an unfair history of the Revolutionary War to show how easy it is to manipulate and distort real facts to make good people look like evil racist slavers." BT)
"It is an undeniable fact that the American Revolution was nothing more than an attempt by wealthy American elites to maintain their influence and power. The vast majority of American Revolutionary leaders were wealthy. It's also a fact that many were slave owners.
The colonies had long benefited from their ties to England and the English King. The colonies had grown in great prosperity and the power of England's navy gave them great freedom to trade across Britain’s vast domains.
British attempts to bring smuggling in line and the need to raise revenue to recoup the costs of the recent French and Indian war, which was fought in defense of the ungrateful colonies, were a threat to these wealthy individuals.
For taxes of just a few cents, often less, these ungrateful thugs who refused to pay their fair share committed acts of violence and depravity. Mobs were stirred up to assault government officers. Many were beaten and some were killed. British attempts to maintain order against these illegal mobs were met by further abuses. The mobs were trained and given weapons until the militias nearly formed an army which could overturn an ancient government which only defended it's right to exist. Anarchy could only be the result of such logic.
Anti-slavery sentiment had long been building in England, but in America much of the booming economy was dependent on slave labor. The economic engine of much of New England was dependent on the slave trade, which England's antipathy toward could threaten.
As the rebels got out of hand in 1775, Lord Dunmore threatened to emancipate the slaves in America if the colonists did not cease their activities and accept government dictates. After the Revolution exploded in Virginia, Dunmore fled with his forces in Williamsburg after issuing the following Emancipation Proclamation
By His Excellency the Right Honorable JOHN Earl of DUNMORE, His Majesty's Lieutenant and Governor General of the Colony and Dominion of VIRGINIA, and Vice Admiral of the same.
A PROCLAMATION
As I have ever entertained Hopes, that an Accommodation might have taken Place between GREAT-BRITAIN and this Colony, without being compelled by my Duty to this most disagreeable but now absolutely necessary Step, rendered so by a Body of armed Men unlawfully assembled, firing on His MAJESTY'S Tenders, and the formation of an Army, and that Army now on their March to attack his MAJESTY'S Troops and destroy the well disposed subjects of the Colony. To defeat such treasonable Purposes, and that all such Traitors, and their Abettors, may be brought to Justice, and that the Peace, and good Order of this Colony may be again restored, which the ordinary Course of the Civil Law is unable to effect; I have thought fit to issue this my Proclamation, hereby declaring, that until the aforesaid good Purpose can be obtained, I do in Virtue of the Power and Authority to ME given, by His MAJESTY, determine to execute Martial Law, and cause the same to be executed throughout this Colony: and to ****** the Peace and good Order may the sooner be restored, I do require every Person capable of bearing Arms, to resort to His MAJESTY'S STANDARD, or be looked upon as Traitors to His MAJESTY'S Crown and Government, and thereby become liable to the Penalty the Law inflicts upon such Offenses; such as forfeiture of Life, confiscation of Lands, &. &. And I do hereby further declare all indented Servants, Negroes, or others, (appertaining to Rebels,) free that are able and willing to bear Arms, they joining His MAJESTY'S Troops as soon as may be, foe the more speedily reducing this Colony to a proper Sense of their Duty, to His MAJESTY'S Crown and Dignity. I do further order, and require, all His MAJESTY'S Liege Subjects, to retain their Quitrents, or any other Taxes due or that may become due, in their own Custody, till such a Time as Peace may be again restored to this at present most unhappy Country, or demanded of them for their former salutary Purposes, by Officers properly ***** to receive the same.
GIVEN under my Hand on board the Ship WILLIAM by Norfolk, the 7th Day of November in the SIXTEENTH Year of His MAJESTY'S Reign.
DUNMORE
(GOD save the KING.)
After this point the war became one to liberate slaves. Throughout the entire war, the British provided safety to slaves who undertook their own liberation. It is believed that over the course of the war up to 100,000 slaves were freed by the British. Dunmore moved with his forces toward the loyal town of Norfolk, while burning plantations and liberating slaves along the way. Historians are unsure how many slaves were murdered or returned to servitude by brutal American slavers after the annihilation of Dunmore's army at the battle of Great Bridge on December 9, 1775.
One has to look no further than the founding documents themselves to see Americans proclaim openly that their principle concern was slavery. Only foolish American apologists would dare argue that they had any other intention than the preservation of their own wealth and slavery. It is an undeniable fact that the last and most important cause given for breaking with their king was the subornation of Africans and Indians. The Deceleration of Independence itself proclaims that the colonies seek independence because, “He (the king) has excited domestic insurrections amongst us (liberated our slaves), and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.” The racism and hatred seeps from the page.
Had English arms proven victorious slavery would have ended once and for all in America, and the colonists would continued the divine and unbreakable connection with their King and parliament. We can only imagine the glories this continued union might have obtained."
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