Essay Sample on Stono Rebellion: African Slaves' Uprising of 1739 in South Carolina

Introduction

The Stono rebellion started on September 9th, 1739, in South Carolina. It was one of the most organized slaves' revolt since the onset of the slave trade. This uprising was also the major one to be witnessed in the British mainland colonies (Bull 17). It was also one of the most organized rebellions ever seen in the United States soil. The revolt was organized and led by Catholic African slaves, who most historians have believed to have hailed from Congo. Jemmy, who was widely referred to as Cato in most of the documents, was a literate slave. He led other slaves in the revolts against their masters, matching from Stono River in South Carolina (The revolution was named after this river) (Wood 14). There was intensive abuse of slaves by their English masters, and thus they were bound to revolt against the system, and therefore, such violence was the key root cause of the Stono rebellion.

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According to Stephan, "it was their great Unhappiness to have a more dangerous enemy in the heart of their country" (04). The dangerous enemies in these cases were the black people who were believed to have run away from their masters. By 1739 slave population had significantly increased in South Carolina. Been a fertile agricultural land, there was a great need for labor supply. This was a period when the economies in the North were booming, especially cotton trade; demand for slaves kept increasing, and hence more Africans kept been sold to facilitate this process through the provision of free labor slaves were a readily available source of cheap labor (Bull 17). Most of the slaves had been bought from the West Indies, where they had also been serving as slaves since their abduction from Africa (Wood 14). The entire process of slaves' abduction to their transportation, as well as the trade, was conducted in the most inhumane ways possible. Slaves were treated as lesser humans and had no right whatsoever. Their masters would mistreat and brutally execute those who dared revolt against their orders (Oglethorpe 08). Some masters, however, allowed their slaves to have access to primary education to gain various skills-most, especially language skills.

According to (Bull 17), "one of the most effectual means that could be used to prevent such desertion of Negro is to encourage some Indians by a suitable reward to pursue and bring back deserters." The statement highlights the length to which the masters were willing to go, to ensures that the slaves remain in bondage, and thus the Stono revolution was bound to occur in the long run (Stephen 06). Most of the slaves used to be promised some land as well as freedom if they obediently and successfully managed to serve their masters for a certain number of years (Stephen 04). However, most of these slaves died long before they could reach such years due to the dehumanizing working conditions. It is also important to note that some of the slaves died due to diseases since they did have any access to health facilities. Starting from Virginia, the scope of who could be enslaved started shifting from non-Christians to non-whites. This further agitated African slaves and hence started igniting rebellions, and this would spread rather fast to other parts of British colonies such as South Carolina (Stephen 04). The tension that existed between the slaves and their masters was therefore bound to erupt just as it did on Sunday, September 9th, 1739 (Bull 16).

The nature of killing by both the slaves and their masters depicts a gruesome picture of lousy treatment and revenge. In document two, we find (Oglethorpe 07), writing that "Negros in Carolina had raised up in Arms and killed forty white people." Later, at document six, it is narrated with horror how the masters respond with brute force to kill the Negros. Also, before the rebellion, there had been a security act that had been passed requiring the white masters to carry their gun to churches. This was prompted by the fear of potential revolts that had been witnessed in other parts of Britain colonies. The slaves were greatly angered by this act as they felt even more vulnerable in the places of worship (House of Assembly committee report 08). This act also removed the "rights" that the slaves had been enjoying before, such as working for pay on Sundays. Slaves were now entirely under their masters, and any simple mistake would be severely punished. Such agitation was, therefore, a tremendous immediate igniter of the revolt. The revolt was also a revenge mission, and it wasn't a peaceful demonstration. Their anger due to oppression was evident as they attacked and killed some storekeepers and seized their weapons. That day the slaves killed 20-25 whites along the way. They also carried out other hostile activities, such as the burning down of seven plantations (Bull 17).

Conclusion

In conclusion, quite an array of factors might have influenced the Stono rebellion. However, the critical root cause of this rebellion was oppression. The entire system of the slave trade was characterized by brutality on the slaves. The agitation had, therefore, build up among the slaves; humans been rational beings are bound to raise and defend themselves once pushed to the limits. In this case, these slaves had been pushed beyond this limit of dehumanization.

Works Cited

Bull, William. "Lieutenant Governor Bull's Eyewitness Account." Document 7, vol. 1, 1755.

House of Assembly committee report. "Rewarding Indians, Catching Rebels." Document 8, 1739.

Oglethorpe, James E. "A Ranger Details the Insurrection." Document 2, vol. 1, 1785.

Stephen, William. "Spanish design and slave resistance." Document 1, vol. 1, 1737.

Wood, Peter. "Account of the Negroe Insurrection in South Carolina." document 6, vol. 1, 1943.