James Armistead Lafayette by John B. Martin, 1824
Collections in the Classroom
Grade Level
Elementary, High, Middle
Time Period
1775-1784: Revolutionary, 1785-1850: Building America
Theme
African American History
Resource Type
Engagement Activity, Post-visit material, Pre-visit material, Primary Source
Download Collections in the Classroom: James Armistead Lafayette by John B. Martin, (pdf)
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
- What do you notice about this portrait?
- Upon receiving his manumission papers, what freedoms did Armistead Lafayette receive?
- How were his rights similar or different from the white patriots he fought along-side?
CONTEXT
James Armistead was born enslaved in 1748. During the American Revolution, he volunteered with the patriot forces under the French officer, the Marquis de La Fayette. Working as a spy, Armistead was able to infiltrate British General Cornwallis’ camp and provided valuable information that lead to the Franco-American Victory at Yorktown in 1781. Because he was a spy, he did not benefit from the Act of 1783, which emancipated any enslaved soldiers who fought for the Revolution. Armistead instead began petitioning Congress for freedom, finally receiving his manumission in 1787.
