Philipsburg Proclamation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Philipsburg Proclamation |
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| Created | 30 June 1779 |
| Authors | General Sir Henry Clinton |
| Purpose | To encourage slaves to run away and enlist in the British Armed Forces |
The Philipsburg Proclamation was an important historical document from the American Revolutionary War. It was issued by British Army General Sir Henry Clinton on June 30, 1779. The main goal of this proclamation was to encourage enslaved people to leave their owners and join the British Armed Forces.
Contents
What Was the Philipsburg Proclamation?
This proclamation was a promise from the British. It said that any enslaved person who left their American Patriot owner would be free. They would also get protection and land from the British. This was a big deal because it offered a path to freedom for many.
Why the British Issued This Proclamation
The British issued this document because they were struggling in the American Revolutionary War. They hoped that by offering freedom, many enslaved people would join their side. This would weaken the American forces and strengthen the British army. It was a strategy to gain an advantage in the war.
How It Expanded on Earlier Promises
The Philipsburg Proclamation built upon an earlier promise. Four years before, in 1775, Lord Dunmore had issued Dunmore's Proclamation. Lord Dunmore was the last British governor of Virginia. His proclamation offered freedom to enslaved people in Virginia who would fight for the British.
Differences from Dunmore's Proclamation
The Philipsburg Proclamation went even further. It applied to all enslaved people in the newly formed United States. It also said that they would be free even if they didn't want to fight. They just needed to leave their American Patriot owners and seek refuge with the British. This made the offer of freedom much broader.
Impact of the Proclamation
The proclamation had a significant impact. Many enslaved people saw this as a chance for freedom. Thousands left their owners and sought protection with the British. For example, over 5,000 enslaved people escaped from Georgia alone.
After the War: New Lives and New Homes
After the war ended, the situation for these formerly enslaved people was complex. George Washington initially demanded that the British return them. However, the British refused, choosing to pay money as compensation instead.
Many of these individuals, known as Black Loyalists, were relocated. About 3,000 of them moved to Nova Scotia, a British colony in Canada. Some later moved again to Sierra Leone in Africa. There, they helped establish Freetown, which became the capital city. This journey was a major step in their fight for lasting freedom and a new life.
