. . . . . "While the American colonies challenge Britain for independence, American slavery is challenged from within, as men and women fight to define what the country will be. In the upheaval of war, 100,000 black people escape their bondage and threaten the institution of slavery as never before. Initially, George Washington refuses to allow black volunteers into his army, but when the British Governor of Virginia promises freedom to slaves who will fight for England, the American high command is forced to reconsider. As the 18th century comes to a close, America hopes to walk a dangerous tightrope between property rights and human rights." . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "Streaming video" . . . . . . "Video recordings for the hearing impaired"@en . . . . . "America's journey through slavery"@en . . . . . . "Revolution"@en . "Revolution" . . . "Documentary television programs"@en . . . . . . . . . . . . "Africans in America : America's journey through slavery"@en . . "Great Blunders: Prohibition" . . . . . . . . . . . . "History" . . "History"@en . . . "Historical television programs"@en . "A four part series portraying the struggles of the African people in America, from their arrival in the 1600s to the last days before the Civil War. In this second episode, while the American colonies challenge Britain for independence, American slavery is challenged from within as men and women fight to define what America will be. When the War of Independence is won, black people, both enslaved and free, seize on the language of freedom even while the new nation's Constitution codifies slavery and oppression as a national way of life."@en . . . "While the American colonies challenge Britain for independence, American slavery is challenged from within. In the upheaval of war, 100,000 black people escape their bondage and threaten the institution of slavery as never before. Initially, George Washington refuses to allow black volunteers into his army, but when the British Governor of Virginia promises freedom to slaves who will fight for England, the American high command is forced to reconsider. As the 18th century comes to a close, America hopes to walk a dangerous tightrope between property rights and human rights." . . . "While the American colonies challenge Britain for independence, American slavery is challenged from within as men and women fight to define what America will be. When the War of Independence is won, black people, both enslaved and free, seize on the language of freedom even while the new nation's Constitution codifies slavery and oppression as a national way of life." . . . . "1775 - 1783" . . "To 1863" . . . . "United States" . .