Africans and natives

Thousands of African American slaves escaped to freedom. Some went to the cities, where they passed as free people. Others went to the frontier, where they sometimes joined Native American tribes. *About 5,000 African Americans served in the Continental army, where their courage, loyalty, and talent impressed white Americans. *Native Americans remained on the fringes of the Revolution. Some fought for the British, but most Native Americans remained apart from the conflict.