Final answer:
Enslaved Africans who joined the British army during the American Revolution were promised freedom. The British honored these promises by evacuating thousands of freed individuals at the end of the war. This opportunity for freedom significantly influenced the participation of black loyalists in the conflict, shaping the eventual settlement of African Loyalists in Nova Scotia and Sierra Leone.
Step-by-step explanation:
Enslaved Africans who enlisted in the British army during the American Revolution were promised freedom for their service. In 1775, Lord Dunmore issued a proclamation that declared any slave owned by a patriot would gain freedom if they joined the British forces; this was an incentive for them to escape and fight for the British. The British military later kept their promise at the war's end, evacuating thousands of freedmen and transporting them to new lives in Canada, the Caribbean, or Great Britain.
Throughout the conflict, the British organized black loyalists as laborers and soldiers, such as those in the "Ethiopian" regiment. The recruitment of African Americans was a strategic move to undermine the American rebellion and compensate for labor shortages within British ranks. Despite challenges and the continued social and economic marginalization they faced in the Empire, many black loyalists like David George contributed to the settlement of places like Nova Scotia and Sierra Leone.
In contrast, the American Continental Army, led by General George Washington, initially resisted enlisting black soldiers due to fears of armed slave revolts. It wasn't until 1776 that Washington allowed the enlistment of free blacks with prior military experience, and by 1777, Congress authorized the enlistment of all blacks, free and enslaved. Nevertheless, the participation of African Americans on both sides highlighted their pursuit of freedom and demonstrated their significant role in the Revolutionary conflict.