Salem Poor at Bunker Hill: Why He Risked Everything

Salem Poor bought his freedom for £27. Why did he risk his life six years later at the Battle of Bunker Hill? In this episode of America's Founding Series on The P.A.S. Report Podcast, Professor Nick Giordano explores the Black Revolutionary War soldier whose battlefield courage prompted thirteen officers and a brigade surgeon to petition the Massachusetts General Court for a reward. Trace Poor's service through Saratoga, Valley Forge, and the Battle of Monmouth. As America marks its 250th anniversary, discover how his continued Continental Army service and later hardship challenge the belief that liberty requires no personal sacrifice. **What You'll Learn In This Episode:** - **The Price of Freedom:** How Salem Poor purchased his liberty in colonial Massachusetts and entered the American Revolution with a family and a future at stake. - **Courage at Bunker Hill:** The December 1775 petition that compared a Black private soldier's conduct to an experienced officer's. - **Service Beyond Recognition:** How Poor entered a three-year Continental Army enlistment after the legislature rejected the request to reward him. - **Life After the Revolution:** The stark contrast between Poor's wartime reputation and his later need for assistance at Boston's almshouse. - L**iberty and Personal Responsibility:** Why a free republic needs citizens whose commitment to principle extends beyond comfort, applause, or convenience. **Episode Chapters** - 00:00 Salem Poor and the Price of Freedom - 00:29 How Salem Poor Bought His Freedom - 02:16 Why Salem Poor Joined the American Revolution - 04:23 Salem Poor at the Battle of Bunker Hill - 06:57 The Petition to Reward Salem Poor's Bravery - 09:06 Salem Poor's Revolutionary War Service and Later Hardship - 12:22 What Salem Poor Teaches Us About Liberty and Duty ⭐ Help Keep Authentic American History Alive: If you believe the sacrifices that built this nation must never be forgotten, follow The P.A.S. Report Podcast, leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and text a link to this episode to 3 or 4 friends and family members right now.