The runaway slaves were black slaves curried from every part of the world and subjected to inhuman treatment by the white colonialists. Among the slaves rose a leader identified as Black Caesar, who decided to wage a resistance against their enslavement (Pybus 203). However, it is not well evident it the action of the runaway slaves animated the principles of the American Revolution. This is because, in one way, part of their actions had similarities to some values of revolution while others seem not to match. Despite the contradiction in the ideologies, the argument still concludes that the runaway action animated the American Revolution. This paper assesses how the actions of the runaway slaves animate the principles of the American revolution that included resistance, persistence, unity, and self-determination.
By going rogue into the forest, the runaways reflected resistance as a principle of the American revolution. As purported, judge Collins on his small obituary over the murdered outlaw Black Caesar in which he said: “what so disturbed him about his refractory convict was the persistent refusal to be reduced to the condition of a slave” (203). This phrase shows an intense struggle that the Black Caesar waged against slavery. His spirit constantly caused trouble in the operation of the whites who enslaved them, hence keeping the colonizers disturbed by his action. This showed how relentless Black Caesar was to get free of slavery. Therefore, this indicates a reflection of the American Revolution as the revolution involved revoking the life set by the colonizers and adapting new life of self-governance and freedom attained through struggle. Furthermore, his spiritual disturbance to the colonials had awakened another slave who was also being oppressed. In this case, the argument is suitable as the element of constant disruption, refusal to adhere, and lack of fear for the colonists supports the reasoning that this portrayed an aspect of the American revolution.
The runaway slaves a spirited resistance against their enslavement by the whites. Judge Collin’s description of Black Caesar’s nature as “this incorrigibly stubborn black” (203) indicates how spirited he was in obtaining his freedom and in liberating other slaves’ to freedom as well. This fight against the superior white government ignited the spirit of the American Revolution, where some people who were tired of the radical colonial leadership decided to stand up for their freedom. The fears leader Black Caesar’s death acted as the beginning of the fight for liberation. He undermined the colonial rule that people considered superior, allowing others to join the spirited battle. Therefore, the resistance of the black slaves reflects the animated resistance as a principle of the American revolution.
The willingness to die for a good cause is also a better reflection of the beginning of the American revolution. When judge Collins through his brief obituary over the dead outlaw, Black Caesar, said, “the end of a man who certainly, during his life could never have been estimated at more than one remove above the tribute” (203). He did describe Black Caesar as one whose thought could never be changed from his cause, as his determination was fixed at freedom. This is evidence of the reaction of the American revolution as the Black Caesar was never disturbed by the life threats made to him by the colonialists. Despite a bounty being put over the man’s head, he still gave his freedom to deny the colonialists peace. Therefore, it is right to say that the man’s acts reflected the American revolution, principled by a spirited fight, evident in the black man’s actions.
The rise of the bushrangers was considered enemies to the judiciary and provided a vivid reflection of the American revolution. When Pybus, in her story, states that “over the next five decades, bushrangers were reviled and relentlessly hunted by the colonial authorities” (203), she showed a picture of resistance. The hunting of colonial authorities was aimed at scaring them, pushing them away from the town. The greater aim of the American revolution was to gain freedom. It is reflected by the bushrangers who seemingly have decided to take a path of their own to make society realize the benefits of freedom. Furthermore, the knowledge of how bad they were being hunted did not lower their fight for freedom, motivating the carceral community never to engage in fear of the colonialists. The bushrangers also provoked the colonialists by raiding them with the aim of pushing them away. The bushrangers were convicts who decided to ally with the Aborigines hence showing a symbol of unity. Therefore, the American revolution is reflected in the bushranger’s unity and spirited fight, which enabled the education of the carceral society on the importance of freedom.
Unity of the bushrangers under one leader, the Black Caesar, was a good reflection of the American revolution as most revolutionists’ were united for a similar cause. As Pybus states in her story of railway slaves, “the bushrangers of whom Caesar was then prototype, became the most significant figure of resistance in Australian history” (204) was a reflection of unity under one leader. This provided uniformity during the freedom struggle as all the slaves seemed to fight for a standard course. All the revolutionists were united under one leader who directed their actions for the American revolution to exist. Unity for freedom is part of the bushranger’s strength and appropriately reflects the future revolution.
Furthermore, unity was strengthened by the folk song created by the bushrangers, “who’d scorn to live in slavery bound down by iron chains” (204). The song rebukes slavery by attributing to life in chains; hence it educates the other slaves on the accurate picture of slavery. Singing also formed an essential element of the American revolution; accordingly, the bushrangers’ activities highly reflected the occurrences in the American Revolution.
Equality between the whites and the blacks was a perfect animation of the American revolution. The people of the railway town said, “this is a free town” (205) to the abolitionist Thomas Perronet Thompson. The people’s enraged him as they purported that town viewed everyone as equal showed a win for the slaves who decided to fight for their freedom. The main aim of the American revolution was to bring unity among people including the backs and the whites. Therefore, the result of the runaway town becoming a free town is perfect evidence of the American Revolution, which also provided for the freedom of America. The rebellion that had once filled the city was utterly eradicated; hence, the town restored peace. Therefore, in the name of the Black Caesar’s leadership, the city was completely liberated. This is also evident in America’s revolution, where countries attained their independence in the name of the revolutionaries.
The principle of change is witnessed in the runaway slaves’ lives after obtaining their freedom. Pybus says that “subverting the very name of a palace purpose the insubordination of rebellion” (205). She reflects the wrong environment, which is a to the chance of theme from a rebellious town to and to a friendly and unified town environment. The fight for freedom waged by the slaves against the radical treatment posed by the whites on them suddenly led to their liberty. These actions and results are also witnessed in the American Revolution, where after the liberation struggle, a new state was formed: the United States. Therefore, these two subsequent historical events hold similarities by both reason and events.
The principle of liberty is also witnessed in the lives of the slaves after winning their freedom. The description of the livelihood of the blacks by Thompson as he said, “the most absurd enthusiasm is their religion, and wild nations of liberty are their politics” (205) represents a new error in self-governance and democracy. Hence, the former slaves decided to enact rules to govern their interests and freedom. Their decision to adopt a separate life from those the white forced them to adapt was an elaboration of freedom; concerning the American Revolution, the revolution animated slave liberation. This is evident as, after the American Revolution, the new government decided to form its constitution and adopt a lifestyle quite different from that of the colonial government. This, therefore, links the actions of the runaway slaves to the occurrence and development of the American Revolution. Self-determination, which was a significant drive for the slaves fighting for their liberation, became a motivation for the revolutionists.
Work Cited
Pybus, Cassandra. Epic Journeys of Freedom. New York: Beacon Press, 2006.