The question of black slavery was raised in negotiations over the Declaration of Independence, raising hopes of blacks, both slave and free. Despite an early draft decrying the evils of slavery, in order to get full participation of southern colonies the language about slavery never made it into the final draft. Early hopes that independence might free American blacks was dashed; England ended slavery many years before America. It appears that blacks realized how they had been sold out; while 5,000 fought on the side of the Continental Army, more than 20,000 served the British forces.