THe Stono Rebellion
Leadership of the Rebellion
The rebellion was lead by a Angolan slave named Jemmy (Wood, 315).
Dates of the Rebellion
September 9-10, 1739(Wood, 315).
Overview of The Rebellion
On September 9, 1739 twenty slaves met up near the Stono River, located in St. Parish, South Carolina. Once assembled they raided the local firearms shop, Hutchison’s, and armed themselves for their rebellion against white slave ownersf. From there they marched to Mr.Godfrey's house where they killed his entire family including his son and daughter and destroyed his house. Once they had finished reeking havoc there, they continued south, on the same road to Georgia and St. Augustine, to Wallace's Tavern (Wood, 315), where they spared the innkeeper because he treated his slaves well. The surrounding neighbors did not have as good fortune. The rebels killed the inhabitants of six surrounding houses and some of their slaved were forced to join the rebellion. Others joined voluntarily (PBS).
The march continued until about midday of the following day, when the party of black rebels, which had expanded to about sixty members, took a break in a field. Meanwhile Lieutenant Governor Bull who had witnessed the blacks violence rode to spread the news of the revolt. At four o’clock in the afternoon a 100-man army descended on the fiend of black rebels, about half of the blacks were killed and the other half who escaped were eventually captured and executed for their acts (PBS).
Consequences of the Stono Rebellion
Prior the Stono Rebellion concern had been growing about the rapidly increasing population size of slaves, and people were beginning think of implementing stricter laws. This would hopefully significantly reduce the chances of an uprising. The Stono Rebellion occurred before these laws could be implemented, but the uprising did result in a crack down of the liberties that the slaves had (PBS). After the Rebellion was over, South Carolina stopped importing slaves for a ten year period so they could enforce these rules, and fully establish the white man's dominance (SC Traveler).
The Negro act, which was passed after the rebellion no longer allowed, slaves to grow crops, assemble in groups, make their own money, and to learn to read (PBS). Prior to the Negro Act slaves had been able to interact with one another and they formed a culture of their own. A distinct family structure emerged along with a religion composed of Christian and African folklore elements. This became the primary characteristics of slave culture (Brinkley, 75). This only made the white and black relations more intense. The steady increase in population of black slaves, created instability of power that the white plantation owners needed to counter act. The way they did this was heavily crack down on and limit slaved rights (PBS). The Negro Act solidified and futher established the white's superiority over the black slaves. The more the blacks resisted their masters the worse they were thought of and treated. The Stono Rebellion made the slaves seem even more unfit to function in society, resulting in stronger support of slavery, and the reduction of slave rights.
Groups involved in the Rebellion
The slaves that initiated the rebellion were mostly Angolans. Along the way slaves of killed masters were added to the procession, and many voluntarily joined along the way. The people that the slaves were attacking were the white landowners who had slaves, and a reputation for harsh or cruel treatment of them. A lot of the settlers killed were in the surrounding area of Wallace’s Tavern. Lieutenant Governor Bull was returning from the south when he intercepted the rebels. He sought help and rallied an army of 100 white soldiers to suppress the rebellion. For the most part there were two sides in the rebellion. Slaves advocated for fair treatment of their peers and the white landowners believed that the slaves were inferior and existed solely to serve the white man (Wood, 314-317).
Chronology of the Rebellion
Mid- August 1739: Security Act requires all adult male citizens to carry a firearm to the church service on Sundays.
September 9, 1739(early morning): 20 slaves meet at the Stono River, South Carolina. Slaves attacks gun shop and steal weapons. They proceed to Mr. Godfrey's house, which they burn to the ground.
September 9,1739(Dawn): The Parade arrives at Wallace's tavern. They spare the innkeeper
September 9,1739(Dawn-11am): Parade attacks and kills 6 surrounding houses and recruits more people for the rebellion, bringing their number to about 50
September 9,1739(Afternoon): The parade stops in a field to rest.
September 9,1739(4pm): Army of 100 white soldiers comes suppress the revolt. They succeed.
May 1740: The Negro Act is passed (SC Traveler)
Resolution of the Rebellion
At the end of the day of September 10 about 30 of the blacks lay dead while 30 others fled. Over the next few years most of these runaways were captured and put to death, upon returning to their plantations. The Negro act was finally passed which severely handicapped the slave’s previous rights (PBS).
Works Cited
Brinkley, Alan. The Unfinished Nation. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. Print.
"Stono Rebellion." Africans in America. PBS Online, n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2015. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part1/1p284.html>.
"The Stono Rebellion." South Carolina Traveler. The South Carolina National Heritage Corridor, 10 Feb. 2014. Web. 8 Oct. 2015. <http://www.scnhc.org/story/the-stono-rebellion-timeline-facts>.
Wood, Peter H. Black Majority. New York: W M Norton, 1996. Print.
Pictures
Sign with information of it-http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMV8D_10_48_The_Stono_Rebellion_1739
Horrid massacre in Virginia- http://www.missedinhistory.com/blog/history-roundup-the-stono-rebellion/
Map- http://www.thedigitel.com/arts-culture/looking-back-stono-slave-rebellion-270-years-later-6429-1004
Slaves working in field- http://atlantablackstar.com/2013/08/26/17-major-companies-never-knew-benefited-slavery/