Running head: EFFECTS OF LORD DUNMORE’S PROCLAMATION 1

Effects of Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation

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EFFECTS OF LORD DUNMORE’S PROCLAMATION 2

Effects of Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation

Lord Dunmore, on 7th November 1775, gave a proclamation that initiated a law that

would free slaves from slavery if they agreed to join the British army. In his proclamation, he

stated that he declare all Negroes, indented servants, or others free, if they were willing and able

to bear arms and join the majesty’s troops to reduce the colony to his majesty’s dignity and

crown (Hine et all., 2018). Three hundred black men had, within one month signed to join the

Royal Ethiopian Regiment. Five hundred men later joined the regiment. Thousands of slaves

were inspired by the proclamation to seek freedom throughout the revolutionary war behind

British lines (Hine et all., 2018). Although the publication only applied to Virginia, thirteen

colonies printed the proclamation in their newspapers. On 6th December 1775, the Pennsylvania

Journal and weekly Advertiser published Lord Dunmore’s proclamation. This paper focuses on

the effects that the proclamation had on the American Revolution on the perspective of patriots,

British, and African Americans.

To begin with, the American Revolution had great impacts on the slavery institution. It

gave unprecedented opportunities for the African American slaves to flee from slavery by

serving in continental and British armies (Hine et all., 2018). In all the thirteen colonies, a total

of four hundred and fifty thousand people were enslaved. It is estimated that between eighty to

one hundred thousand slaves escaped to join the British lines. The American Revolution was a

combination of ideological and material changes. Social and economic developments were part

of the colonies for independence. Therefore, seizing and declaring independence required

provocative political events and the European enlightenment of political rights. The American

Revolution had radical political changes and ideas that shocked conservative patriots (Hine et

all., 2018). Most of the slaves and Native Americans, for practical reasons, sided with the
EFFECTS OF LORD DUNMORE’S PROCLAMATION 3

British. On the other hand, poor whites, women, and African Americans expanded and seized

upon the rhetoric of rights, liberty, and freedom.

Apart from offering freedom to slaves who agreed to work for the British army, Lord

Dunmore’s proclamation led to the martial law, which created unrest and fear in Virginia.

Additionally, the proclamation led to a revolution that divided the blacks and whites in Virginia

(Hine et all., 2018). During his proclamation, Dunmore had underestimated the potential

motivation of the slaves. The enslaved people were motivated by the desire to acquire freedom as

opposed to vengeance. The decision to support patriots or British was the major cause of the

division between white and black families. Most of the slaves were eager to support the British

due to the Overwhelming desire for their freedom, rights, and respect (Hine et all., 2018).

The proclamation had diverse effects on the patriots of the United States. The war

experiences were varied in different places depending on ethnic and racial makeup, economic

disruption vulnerability, and proximity to battle. The war was mostly intense in densely

populated area, mostly along the coast. The British stroke the economic and political centers

(Hine et all., 2018). They took advantage of their naval prowess and power. Nearly half of the

people who occupied the port cities lost their lives during the first year of the Revolution. Inland

communities were also affected as they had to cope with refugees who were streaming in from

the port cities. The interior settlers moved to the East as they were fleeing from their Indian allies

and Loyalist rangers who were fighting the patriot militias in a chaotic and violent struggle

(Locke & Wright, 2019).i By 1783, there had been a decline of the white population from ten

thousand to three thousand five hundred along the Mohawk River in New York. In Tryon

County, around two thousand children were orphaned, four hundred women widowed, seven

hundred buildings burned, and twelve thousand farms abandoned within five years of the war.
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Social and political life took a drastic change after independence. People gained political

participation and were given the right to vote (Locke & Wright, 2019).ii Common citizen started

playing important roles in state and local governance. The society became more egalitarian and

less deferential, more meritocratic and less aristocratic. The British Empire imposed several

restrictions such as limiting manufacturing, settlement, and trade on colonial economies. The

revolution opened trade relationships and new markets. Some slaves fled with the British army in

1783 (Locke & Wright, 2019). Some of the slaves that were freed hoped that the British would

keep the promises that they had been promised. However, the Treaty of Paris demanded that the

slaves be left behind by the British troops. The British commander violated the demand and

decided to evacuate the freedmen to Great Britain, the Caribbean, and to Canada.

Conclusively, the colonists were freed from the British rule by the American Revolution,

which was a global event. Revolutions followed in South America, Haiti, and France. It is easy

to note that Lord Dunmore’s proclamation had diverse effects on African Americans as it

triggered the revolt against the colonists. Secondly, the proclamation also affected the patriots as

it triggered the war that led to freedom from enslavement. The patriots who did not support the

British moves suffered greatly lose that included deaths, destruction of property, and evacuation.

Finally, yet importantly, the proclamation had an effect to the British as it aroused rivalry

between the British and the colonists that culminated into a fierce battle.
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Reference

Hine, Darlene et all. (2018). The African American Odyseey, Volume 1. Seventh Edition. New

York: Pearson.

Locke, J. L., & Wright, B. (2019). The American Yawp: A Massively Collaborative Open U. S.

History Textbook, Vol. 1: To 1877.

i
Locke, J. L., & Wright, B. (2019). The American Yawp: A Massively Collaborative Open U. S. History Textbook, Vol.
1: To 1877. Chapter 5
ii
Locke, J. L., & Wright, B. (2019). The American Yawp: A Massively Collaborative Open U. S. History Textbook, Vol.
1: To 1877. Chapter 5