10.1 Major Slave Rebellions and Conspiracies

Slave rebellions and conspiracies shook the foundations of American slavery. From the Stono Rebellion to Nat Turner's uprising, these acts of resistance challenged the institution and sparked fear among slaveholders. They led to harsher laws but also fueled abolitionist movements.

Maritime rebellions like the Amistad and Creole incidents brought the fight against slavery to international waters. John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry marked a turning point, intensifying tensions between North and South and pushing the nation closer to civil war.

Early 18th Century Rebellions

Stono Rebellion: Largest Slave Uprising in Colonial America

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• Occurred in 1739 near Charleston, South Carolina
• Led by enslaved African named Jemmy
• Involved approximately 100 enslaved Africans
• Rebels marched south toward Spanish Florida, which offered freedom to escaped slaves
• Killed several white colonists and burned multiple plantations
• Suppressed by colonial militia after a fierce battle
• Resulted in stricter slave codes and increased restrictions on enslaved people's movements
• Demonstrated the potential for organized resistance among enslaved populations

New York Slave Revolt of 1712: Urban Uprising

• Took place in New York City, then a British colony
• Organized by enslaved Africans from different ethnic groups
• Involved setting fire to buildings in the city
• Rebels attacked white colonists who came to extinguish the fires
• Quickly suppressed by colonial authorities
• Led to severe punishments for participants, including executions and deportations
• Heightened fears of slave rebellions in urban areas
• Resulted in more restrictive laws governing enslaved people in New York

Early 19th Century Conspiracies and Rebellions

Gabriel's Rebellion: Thwarted Uprising in Virginia

• Planned for August 30, 1800, near Richmond, Virginia
• Organized by Gabriel Prosser, an enslaved blacksmith
• Aimed to capture Richmond, kill white slaveholders, and establish a free Black state
• Involved thousands of enslaved and free Blacks across several counties
• Conspiracy exposed by other enslaved individuals
• Resulted in the arrest and execution of Gabriel and many co-conspirators
• Led to increased restrictions on enslaved people's movements and assembly
• Demonstrated the potential for widespread, organized resistance among enslaved populations

Denmark Vesey's Conspiracy: Charleston's Aborted Rebellion

• Planned for July 14, 1822, in Charleston, South Carolina
• Organized by Denmark Vesey, a free Black man and former slave
• Aimed to liberate enslaved people and sail to Haiti for refuge
• Involved thousands of free and enslaved Blacks in the Charleston area
• Plot discovered before implementation due to informants
• Resulted in the arrest and execution of Vesey and 34 co-conspirators
• Led to increased surveillance of Black communities and restrictions on free Blacks
• Highlighted the connections between free and enslaved Black communities in resistance efforts

Nat Turner's Rebellion: Violent Uprising in Virginia

• Occurred on August 21, 1831, in Southampton County, Virginia
• Led by Nat Turner, an enslaved preacher
• Involved approximately 70 enslaved and free Blacks
• Rebels killed approximately 55-65 white people, including women and children
• Suppressed after two days by state and federal troops
• Resulted in the execution of Turner and many co-conspirators
• Led to widespread retaliatory violence against Black communities in the South
• Sparked debates about slavery and increased restrictions on enslaved people's education and assembly

Late Antebellum Era Rebellions

Maritime Rebellions: Challenging Slavery at Sea

• Amistad Rebellion (1839)
  • Occurred on a Spanish slave ship off the coast of Cuba
  • Led by Sengbe Pieh (Joseph Cinque) and other Mende captives
  • Rebels seized control of the ship and attempted to sail back to Africa
  • Captured by U.S. Navy and brought to Connecticut for trial
  • Resulted in a landmark Supreme Court case granting freedom to the rebels
  • Highlighted international tensions over the slave trade and slavery
• Creole Rebellion (1841)
  • Took place on the slave ship Creole en route from Virginia to New Orleans
  • Led by Madison Washington and 18 other enslaved individuals
  • Rebels successfully commandeered the ship and sailed to Nassau, Bahamas
  • British authorities in Nassau freed the rebels, causing diplomatic tensions with the U.S.
  • Demonstrated the potential for resistance during the domestic slave trade
  • Highlighted the role of British abolition in challenging American slavery

John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry: Abolitionist Direct Action

• Occurred on October 16-18, 1859, in Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia)
• Led by white abolitionist John Brown and a small group of supporters
• Aimed to initiate a large-scale slave rebellion by seizing the federal armory
• Involved both white and Black abolitionists in the planning and execution
• Quickly suppressed by U.S. Marines led by Colonel Robert E. Lee
• Resulted in the capture, trial, and execution of John Brown
• Intensified sectional tensions between the North and South
• Viewed as a catalyst for the American Civil War