“The Road to the Stono Rebellion”
On September 9,1739, one of the most prominent uprising against white slave owners in the history of colonial America had occurred. Led by Jemmy, an Angolan, twenty other slaves had gathered on this day near the Stono River, where they planned on revolting against slave masters. Marching to Charlestown, approximately 20 miles from Stono, they had killed more than 20 slave owners. The rebels headed towards Florida, where Signs of “Liberty” had been carried by the rebels, where they were singing, beating drums and were recruiting more slaves. However the slaves’ revolt had not been successful as the amount black slaves killed was twice as the amount of whites killed. …show more content…
Oglethorpe stated, “Sometime since there was a Proclamation published at Augustine, in which the King of Spain(then at Peace with Great abortion) promised Protection and Freedoms to all Negroes[sic] Slaves that would resort thither[Augustine]” The Spanish had made false promises about slaves gaining their freedom once they reach St. Augustine. The Spanish probably felt that by making such a proposal, the slaves might take actions against the English so they can go Augustine to be free. The slaves were Catholic when they were in Africa, so the offer may have been appealing to them. John K. Thorton states a similar idea, “....they[Kongolese] believed made them a distinctive people, and thus Kongolese slaves would have seen the Spanish offers in terms of freedom of religion( or freedom of Catholic religion) as additionally attractive beyond promises of freedom in general.” Thorton believes that the slaves had a real interest in the Proclamation made by the Spanish. However, the Spanish in a way were manipulating the slaves may have felt that in order to gain freedom, the slaves were going to have to take some sort of actions against the English. The Spanish wanted to compete against the English by having the slaves weaken the English’s
On September 9,1739, one of the most prominent uprising against white slave owners in the history of colonial America had occurred. Led by Jemmy, an Angolan, twenty other slaves had gathered on this day near the Stono River, where they planned on revolting against slave masters. Marching to Charlestown, approximately 20 miles from Stono, they had killed more than 20 slave owners. The rebels headed towards Florida, where Signs of “Liberty” had been carried by the rebels, where they were singing, beating drums and were recruiting more slaves. However the slaves’ revolt had not been successful as the amount black slaves killed was twice as the amount of whites killed. …show more content…
Oglethorpe stated, “Sometime since there was a Proclamation published at Augustine, in which the King of Spain(then at Peace with Great abortion) promised Protection and Freedoms to all Negroes[sic] Slaves that would resort thither[Augustine]” The Spanish had made false promises about slaves gaining their freedom once they reach St. Augustine. The Spanish probably felt that by making such a proposal, the slaves might take actions against the English so they can go Augustine to be free. The slaves were Catholic when they were in Africa, so the offer may have been appealing to them. John K. Thorton states a similar idea, “....they[Kongolese] believed made them a distinctive people, and thus Kongolese slaves would have seen the Spanish offers in terms of freedom of religion( or freedom of Catholic religion) as additionally attractive beyond promises of freedom in general.” Thorton believes that the slaves had a real interest in the Proclamation made by the Spanish. However, the Spanish in a way were manipulating the slaves may have felt that in order to gain freedom, the slaves were going to have to take some sort of actions against the English. The Spanish wanted to compete against the English by having the slaves weaken the English’s