4 Notable Slave Rebellions in Western History

In the wake of great injustice, disenfranchised individuals have historically turned to violent uprisings in an effort to express their outrage at being mistreated. Often, these rebellions are rooted in class discrepancies, with the poor being subject to cruelty and unfairness at the hands of the wealthy. In the cases of slave rebellions, this issue was exacerbated by notions of racism and white supremacy.

Stono Rebellion

The largest rebellion held in the colonies, the Stono Rebellion was led by a man named Jemmy in 1739. It began with around 20 men but quickly grew to about 100 strong, many of which had been trained with weapons and in combat before their abduction and subsequent enslavement. The rebellion is named for one of the first targets, a large store by the Stono River, at which the rebelling slaves executed the owners and reportedly left their heads on the front steps as a message. The rebellion forces proceeded to target additional houses and inhabitants, setting fires and killing those they encountered while marching down King’s Highway toward St. Augustine where they would be free.

For about a week, the rebellion persisted, but the colonists eventually rallied together and slaughtered most of the slaves. Following this rebellion, additional revolts occurred, spurred on by the former slaves’ efforts to obtain their freedom.

Nat Turner’s Rebellion

Perhaps the most well-known slave revolt was led by Nat Turner in 1831. A deeply religious man, Turner was inspired by prophetic visions that instructed him to launch a rebellion in order to seize his freedom. Accompanied by nearly 70 other slaves, Turner killed his master and his family while they slept and proceeded into town where they ultimately killed more than 50 white individuals. The rebellion only ceased when it was stopped by a militia force; Turner, along with most of his accompanying men, were captured and executed.

Following this rebellion, word and hysteria spread across the states, resulting in the murder of nearly 200 slaves as well as stricter laws pertaining to the education of slaves under the widespread belief that Turner’s literacy made him a threat. The increased oppression that occurred following Nat Turner’s Rebellion contributed to rising racial tensions in the states.

The 1733 St. John Insurrection

As one of the earliest slave revolts in North American history, the 1733 St. John Insurrection is particularly notable due to the initial success of the uprising. Afflicted by hazardous conditions, unjust laws, and contagious illnesses, the slaves on the island of St. John began to plot a rebellion. After acquiring smuggled weapons , the slaves led an attack on Danish soldiers in Coral Bay, one of many plantations on the island. Shortly after, more than 100 additional rebels attacked other plantations and colonists. As the result of this rebellion, the slaves managed to claim most of the island and planned to claim it as their own to make use of the ample farmland and other resources.

Unfortunately, more Danish forces arrived about six months later and put a violent end to the rebellion. Slavery continued to be legal in the Danish West Indies until 1848.

The Haitian Revolution

Regarded as one of the most successful uprisings led by slaves, the Haitian Revolution began in 1791. Inspired, in part, by the French Revolution, the Haitian Revolution took place in Saint-Domingue, a French colony, and involved an organized effort to obtain freedom and independence. The revolt was bloody, resulting in the burning of sugar plantations and the deaths of thousands. In 1794, France abolished slavery in all of its territories. When Napoleon Bonaparte’s forces captured the territory’s governor in 1802 and attempted to bring back slavery, the forces rose up once more, earning victory at the Battle of Vertières the following year. Shortly after, the former slaves declared independence and named the territory Haiti; this slave revolution was the only one in history to establish a new nation, and news of this revolution quickly spread, inspiring and empowering other slaves to rebel.

The fight for justice and equality is one that has persisted throughout history among different groups. The rebellions described above are just a few examples of how constant injustice, cruelty, and poverty can contribute to the rebellion of the oppressed, and as highlighted in a few cases above, rebellions such as these can result in significant, widespread change not only in policy and practice but in ideology.

Originally published at http://jorgejperez.net.