The Stono Rebellion: A Powerful Chapter in the Fight Against Slavery in Colonial America

By the 1700s, the slave trade had become a highly profitable enterprise in America, with over 500,000 slaves spread across the colonies. Despite their lack of privileges and opportunities for personal growth, by the 1720s, slaves often gathered to educate themselves, discuss social issues, and connect with others from neighboring plantations and colonies. These meetings fostered a sense of unity and built an active community that could one day challenge the institution of slavery. Many of these gatherings were held in secret, and they occasionally sparked rebellions across America.

The largest slave rebellion in the southern colonies occurred in the British Colony of South Carolina. Slaves had repeatedly met to devise a plan to secure their freedom after hearing that Spanish Florida offered freedom and land to escaped slaves.

On Sunday, September 9, 1739, a group of slaves convened near the Stono River to organize their journey to Spanish Florida, where they hoped to live as free people. Jemmy, an educated and elite slave, spearheaded the rebellion, and his call for action was quickly embraced by the group.

Jemmy led a band of 20 slaves back to South Carolina, chanting for freedom and carrying a banner that read “Liberty!”—crafted from the cloth they wore. As they marched southward, their numbers grew as other slaves joined them. Upon reaching Stono Bridge, they attacked Hutchenson’s store, killing the two white storekeepers and seizing weapons, including guns and gunpowder.

Their ranks swelled to over 60 as they continued their march, attacking plantations, killing slave owners, and liberating fellow slaves. The Stono Rebels killed nearly 30 white slave owners and burned six plantations. However, news of the attacks quickly spread.

Lieutenant Governor William Bull of South Carolina alerted other slaveholders, many of whom went into hiding, giving slaves a chance to flee. The governor then mobilized white militias to confront the rebels on their path to Spanish Florida.

The ensuing battle was fierce, resulting in the deaths of about 30 whites and 60 rebels. Afterward, surviving rebels and runaway slaves were captured. The governor ordered the execution of the surviving rebels, and slaves whose masters had been killed were sold to other plantations.

The aftermath of the Stono Rebellion had profound implications. In response to the uprising, the South Carolina legislature enacted the Negro Act of 1740. This law prohibited slaves from meeting, receiving education, growing their own food, earning money, and engaging in substantial trade. It also imposed a ratio of one white person to every ten slaves to prevent future rebellions.

Jemmy and many of the slaves involved in the Stono Rebellion were identified as originating from the ancient Kongo Empire. The presence of Portuguese-speaking slaves in South Carolina suggests that many were brought from Central Africa, specifically the Kingdom of Kongo, which had a slave trade agreement with Portuguese colonizers.

The Stono Rebellion remains a significant chapter in the history of slave resistance in America, symbolizing the relentless pursuit of freedom and justice by enslaved Africans. Their courage and defiance continue to inspire the ongoing struggle for equality and human rights.