62. When Slaves Fought for the British Empire

Anita Anand and William Dalrymple host Maya Jasanoff to discuss the complex backdrop of the American Revolutionary War and its implications, focusing on the economic and ideological factors that united disparate colonial interests against British rule. The conversation explores the significance of the Caribbean and Bengal as economic powerhouses, the role of slavery, and the promises made to enslaved people who fought for the British, setting the stage for a deeper examination of the resettlement of Black Loyalists and the founding of Sierra Leone in the next episode. The hosts also touch upon the experiences of white loyalists exiled from America and the challenges they faced in integrating into other parts of the British Empire.