Final answer:
Jehu Grant and other Black individuals enlisted in the Patriot forces during the American Revolution hoping to achieve personal freedom and contribute to the American fight for independence, despite resistance from the Continental Congress and complex racial dynamics.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jehu Grant's narrative suggests that he joined the Patriot forces during the American Revolution because he, like many other northern slaves and free blacks, saw it as an opportunity to fight for personal and collective freedom. Although Great Britain promised freedom to those joining their side, the Declaration of Independence and its ideals inspired many enslaved and free Black people to join the battle for American freedom. The involvement of Black soldiers in the Patriot cause, despite the Continental Congress bowing to pressure to bar slaves from service, is a testament to their aspirations for liberty and the essential manpower they offered to the revolutionary effort.