As part of the southern strategy, the British encouraged slaves to flee to their strongholds, promising them freedom.

Question

Is this statement true or false?

Answer 1

This statement is VERY true! The British believed that they could cripple the South if their slaves abandoned their work and escaped. They also wanted to plant the seed of fear that there would be massive slave revolts in the South. Part of the strategy was to promise freedom to all of the slaves who escaped during the war. While sound on paper, this strategy backfired pretty quickly, rallying Southern slaveowners to the Patriot cause. Many southerners were, at best, indifferent to the cause for independence at the onset of the war. However, they believed that this was a blatant attack on their way of life by the British.