The Influence of Dunmore’s Proclamation on the American Revolution

Examine Dunmore’s Proclamation, a military tactic that offered freedom to people enslaved by “Rebels” if they joined British forces. Students explore the goals of the Proclamation and how different groups responded to it. They can extend their learning and dive deeper into the different motivations of soldiers of color (both enslaved and free) who chose to fight on either the Patriot or Loyalist side as part of the Rhode Island Regiment and Dunmore’s Ethiopian Regiment.

About the Author:
Niles Mattier is a faculty member at Bridgewater State University, teaching pre-service teachers in the College of Education and Health Sciences. Previously, he taught graduate students at Bank Street College of Education and worked as an English as a new language, special education, and history teacher in Boston and NYC. He holds a bachelor’s in history and education studies from Syracuse University and a master’s in social studies curriculum and teaching from Boston University, and is a doctoral candidate in education at Northeastern University.