Overview
The Stono Rebellion of 1739 was a violent uprising in the Southern Colonies where a large group of enslaved Africans in South Carolina attempted to escape to freedom in Florida and killed 20-30 whites.
- In 1739, the black population outnumbered the white population in South Carolina.
- In August 1739, a war between Spain and Britain was imminent. South Carolina passed the Security Act, which required all men to carry firearms to church on Sunday.
- About six weeks later, on October 22, the War of Jenkins’ Ear started between Britain and Spain.
The incident started early on September 9 near the Stono River Bridge. The slaves chose Sunday morning to take action because most white people were at church.
Around 20 slaves were working there when one of them — a man named Jemmy — led the group to a nearby warehouse. They killed the two guards, broke in, and stole guns, ammunition, and gunpowder.
- The leaders were from Angola. It is believed they gained military experience while living in Africa.
The insurgents started their march south to Florida, shouting “Liberty” and beating drums as they went. As they went along, they attacked people, burned buildings, and recruited other slaves to join them. However, they passed by Wallace’s Tavern and let the owner live because “he was a good Man and kind to his Slaves.”
Not all slaves joined the march voluntarily. The slaves of Thomas Rose saved their master’s life by hiding him and were then forced to join the march. By late morning, somewhere between 60 and 100 slaves were marching south. They were seen by Lieutenant Governor William Bull, who alerted churchgoers to the danger.
In the afternoon, around 100 armed men pursued the insurgents. When they caught up with them near the Esosto River, they attacked and overwhelmed them. Many insurgents were killed, some surrendered, and others escaped.
Over the next two days, Native American Indians, hired by Governor Bull, helped the South Carolina Militia track down around 40 fugitives and executed them.
The South Carolina Assembly responded to the Stono Rebellion by making changes to the existing Slave Laws. The changes restricted slave activity and prohibited owners from teaching them to read or write.
Essential Facts
- The Stono Rebellion is also known as the “Stono War of 1739,” “Cato’s Conspiracy,” and “Cato’s Rebellion.”
- The apparent leader of the insurgents was a man named Jemmy, also called “Cato.”
- The Stono Rebellion occurred on Sunday, September 9, 1739, in the Province of South Carolina. The insurgents gathered near present-day Rantowles, South Carolina, in Charleston County.
- It was the largest uprising of enslaved African Americans in the American Colonies before the American Revolution.
- The Stono Rebellion failed because the insurgents did not make it to Florida, and the uprising was ended. Many of the insurgents were returned to bondage or sold to plantation owners in the West Indies.
Causes
- In 1733, Spain issued a proclamation that promised freedom to any fugitive slaves who could escape and safely make their way to Fort Mosé, near St. Augustine, Florida.
- The South Carolina economy relied on slave labor because plantation owners needed workers for labor-intensive crops like rice.
- Slave owners used violence and slave patrols to control the slave population, but slaves were not forced to work on Sundays.
Effects
- The South Carolina Assembly restricted the importation of slaves from Africa and the West Indies.
- The Assembly required a ratio of one white for every ten blacks on plantations.
- The South Carolina Assembly passed the Negro Act of 1740, which restricted the activities, education, and freedom of slaves. It allowed slaveowners to regulate, control, and punish their slaves. It prohibited slaves from assembling in groups, learning to read, and learning to write.
Significance
The Stono Rebellion is important to American History because it led to the passage of harsh Slave Laws in South Carolina. These laws made living conditions worse for enslaved people. The Rebellion also increased concerns and fears of slave rebellions throughout the southern colonies.
AP US History Alignment
The Stono Rebellion is part of the following units, topics, and chapters in the AP US History curriculum:
Unit 2: 1607–1754
Notes
Definition
The Stono Rebellion was the largest uprising of enslaved people in the colonies. On September 9, 1739, near Charleston, South Carolina, a group of slaves burned buildings and killed people as they tried to escape to freedom in Florida. Local militia stopped them. Afterward, South Carolina passed strict Slave Laws.
Video
This video from the South Carolina Film Institute provides an overview of the causes, events, and outcomes of the Stono Rebellion.
Appendix (Primary Documents)
Governor William Bull’s Account
My Lords,
I beg leave to lay before your Lordships an account of our Affairs, first in regard to the Desertion of our Negroes…On the 9th of September last at Night a great Number of Negroes Arose in Rebellion, broke open a Store where they got arms, killed twenty one White Persons, and were marching the next morning in a Daring manner out of the Province, killing all they met and burning several Houses as they passed along the Road. I was returning from Granville County with four Gentlemen and met these Rebels at eleven o’clock in the forenoon and fortunately deserned the approaching danger time enough to avoid it, and to give notice to the Militia who on the Occasion behaved with so much expedition and bravery, as by four a’Clock the same day to come up with them and killed and took so many as put a stop to any further mischief at that time, forty four of them have been killed and Executed; some few yet remain concealed in the Woods expecting the same fate, seem desperate…
It was the Opinion of His Majesty’s Council with several other Gentlemen that one of the most effectual means that could be used at present to prevent such desertion of our Negroes is to encourage some Indians by a suitable reward to pursue and if possible to bring back the Deserters, and while the Indians are thus employed they would be in the way ready to intercept others that might attempt to follow and I have sent for the Chiefs of the Chickasaws living at New Windsor and the Catawbaw Indians for that purpose….
My Lords,
Your Lordships Most Obedient and Most Humble Servant
Wm Bull
South Carolina Commons House of Assembly Committee Report on the Stono Rebellion
November 29, 1739
1. That upon Inquiry your Committee find that a negro man named July belonging to Mr. Thomas Elliott was very early and chiefly instrumental in saving his Master and his Family from being destroyed by the Rebellious Negroes and that the Negro man July had at several times bravely fought against the Rebels and killed one of them. Your Committee therefore recommends that the [said] Negro July (as a reward for his faithful Services and for an Encouragement to other Slaves to follow his Example in case of the like Nature) shall have his Freedom and a Present of a Suit of Cloaths, Shirt, Hat, a pair of stockings and a pair of Shoes.
2. That the several Slaves heareafter named Ralph, Prince, Joe, Larush, and Pompey belonging to the [said] Mr Thos Elliott, Sampon belonging to to Mr Wilkinson, two Negro Men and a Negro Woman (whose names your Committee do not know) belonging to Mr Thomas Rose, Two Negro Men (whose names are also unkown to your Committee) who belong to the Estate of Mr John Haynes dec’d. And one Negro Man (his name not known by your Committee) belonging to the Estate of Mr Christopher Wilkinson dec’d a Negro man belonging to Mrs Wilkson Widow named Mingo; a Mustee Man have behaved themselves very well and been a great source in opposing the Rebellions Negroes; For which your Committee recommend that they be rewarded as follows (that is to say) the Men to have each a Suit of Cloths, hat, shirt, a pair of Shoes, and a pair of Stockings, And the Women to have each a Jacket and Petticoat, a Shift, a pair of Stockings, and a pair of Shoes and also the sum of 20[lb] in Cash to each of the Slaves above named…
7. That several of the Neighbouring Indians did assist in hunting for, taking and destroying the [said] Rebellious Negroes, For which your Committee propose that the [said] Indians be severally rewarded with a Coat, a Flap, a Hat, a pair of Indian Stockings, a Gun, 2 pounds of Powder and 8 Pounds of Bullets, Which Indians Names are as follows (that is to say) Tobb, Old Jack, Peter, Tom and Philip and five other Indians (whose names your Committee do not know) that came down to Stono with Captain Coachman.
