The significance of Dunmore's Proclamation was that it offered enslaved Africans freedom in exchange for supporting the Loyalists during the American Revolution.
There was a lot of diversity among the loyalists at the time of the American Revolution. Historians estimate about twenty percent of colonists identified as loyalists. The discrimination faced by new immigrants played a role here as well. It sometimes led to resentment of other American colonists. For example, because Scotland was part of Britain, Scots believed they should be treated as equals by the English colonists; but often they were not. In South Carolina, many loyalists immigrated to the colony after 1765. This meant that their connections back to Britain were stronger than those of people who had immigrated much earlier.
Indigenous peoples took sides in the revolution, too. While the British government controlled the colonies, groups—such as the Mohawk and Creek—were often in conflict with American colonists over territory. Dislike and mistrust of the colonists caused many Indigenous groups to remain allied with the British.Another important group was known as the Black loyalists. These were enslaved or free Africans who supported the British during the war. Lord Dunmore, the British governor of Virginia, issued a proclamation, known as Dunmore’s Proclamation, that granted freedom to any enslaved African who fought in defense of the British government. During the revolution, there were regiments of free Africans who fought with the British against the patriots. After the British loss, some of these freedmen who had remained loyal resettled in other British colonies, such as Canada and Jamaica.
What was the significance of Dunmore’s proclamation?(1 point)ResponsesIt offered enslaved Africans freedom in exchange for supporting the Loyalists during the American Revolution.It offered enslaved Africans freedom in exchange for supporting the Loyalists during the American Revolution.It guaranteed representation in Parliament for all Loyalists who defended the British government.It guaranteed representation in Parliament for all Loyalists who defended the British government.It offered enslaved Africans freedom in exchange for supporting the Patriots during the American Revolution.It offered enslaved Africans freedom in exchange for supporting the Patriots during the American Revolution.It laid out the Patriots’ motivations for the American Revolution.It laid out the Patriots’ motivations for the American Revolution.
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