The Stono Rebellion, which took place on September 9, 1739, in South Carolina, is one of the most significant and earliest slave uprisings in the American colonies. This revolt was led by a group of enslaved Africans who sought to escape the brutal conditions of slavery by marching southward toward Spanish-controlled Florida, where they had been promised freedom by the Spanish government. The rebellion’s origins can be traced to a confluence of factors, including the harsh realities of slavery, the influence of Spanish policies, and the presence of a relatively large and organized enslaved population in the region.
The participants in the Stono Rebellion were predominantly Kongolese men, many of whom were recent arrivals from Africa and likely had military experience, given the ongoing conflicts in the Kingdom of Kongo during the early 18th century. The rebellion began near the Stono River, about 20 miles southwest of Charleston, when a group of about 20 enslaved men gathered at a local store. They killed the two storekeepers and armed themselves with guns and ammunition before setting off on their march.
As they moved southward, the group’s numbers swelled to nearly 100 as more enslaved people joined the rebellion. Along the way, they burned plantations and killed white colonists, with the ultimate goal of reaching St. Augustine in Florida. The Spanish had been encouraging slaves to escape from the British colonies and had even established a free Black settlement called Fort Mose near St. Augustine, offering a haven for those who could make the perilous journey.
The rebellion was ultimately quashed by South Carolina’s colonial militia, which caught up with the group on the same day of their uprising. A violent confrontation ensued, leading to the deaths of many rebels, while others were captured and later executed. Some managed to escape but were hunted down over the following weeks. In total, the rebellion and its aftermath resulted in the deaths of at least 60 people, including 25 colonists and 35 to 50 enslaved individuals.
The Stono Rebellion had profound consequences for the enslaved population and the broader society in South Carolina. In response to the uprising, the colonial government swiftly enacted the Negro Act of 1740, a comprehensive set of laws that severely restricted the lives of enslaved people. The Act limited slaves’ ability to gather, grow their own food, earn money, or learn to read. It also imposed stricter controls on the movement of slaves and established harsher punishments for those who defied the law. These measures were designed to prevent future rebellions and to reinforce the absolute authority of slaveholders over their human property.
