Final answer:
The American Revolution juxtaposed principles of liberty with the reality of slavery, prompting African Americans to challenge their enslavement and highlighting the contradictions of a nation fighting for freedom while maintaining human bondage. Some African Americans gained freedom by aligning with the British or through gradual emancipation, but slavery largely persisted, particularly in the South.
Step-by-step explanation:
Impact of the American Revolution on African American Enslavement
The American Revolution had complex effects on the institution of slavery and the views of African Americans' enslavement. The revolution, which was fought on the principles of liberty and natural rights, paradoxically took place in a society that widely practiced slavery. Samuel Johnson's poignant question highlighted the contradiction of seeking liberty while enslaving others. The revolution facilitated debates around the morality and legality of slavery, with many African Americans resisting the institution by joining the British or American forces, petitioning for freedom, or forming anti-slavery societies.
Despite the revolution, slavery remained entrenched due to its deep economic roots. Although the revolutionary rhetoric provided some African Americans with opportunities to secure freedom, for most, the institution of slavery continued to thrive. The Revolution's ideals stimulated the abolitionist movement, leading to gradual emancipation in the North; however, in the South, slavery not only persisted but expanded with even greater resolve.
The Revolution created the largest slave uprising and emancipation event until the Civil War, with twenty thousand enslaved African Americans joining the British cause. This highlighted the inconsistencies between the fight for colonial freedom and the ongoing bondage of African Americans. Ultimately, while the Revolution planted the seeds for future challenges to slavery, it did not dismantle the institution. The ideals of freedom and equality would take a much longer struggle to apply to African Americans.