The Stono Rebellion

With laborious work that strained their bodies as well as their mind, it is no surprise that slaves held thoughts regarding separation between them and their slave masters. Of course, what does come, as a surprise is the fact that Angolan slaves residing in the British Colony of South Carolina in 1739 were able to construct a revolt that resulted in a reformation that more tightly regulated the gathering of slaves. The revolt, known as the Stono Rebellion, was constructed in pursuit of rule under the Spanish Empire. In the document “Account of the Negroe Insurrection in South Carolina”, the Peter Oglethorpe specifies that a group of slaves that were from the Kingdom of Angola in Africa spoke “Portugueze” (Portuguese), additionally noting, “It …show more content…
This was especially true for the Angolan slaves who professed the Roman Catholic religion after first being exposed to it in Africa. In Oglethorpe’s primary account, he states “...the Jesuits have a Mission and School in that kingdom and many thousands of the Negroes there profess the Roman Catholic Religion.” Here it is seen the early footsteps of the Spanish empire. Perhaps, anticipating a possible conflict between the slaves and the British or maybe just wanting to convert them before any other Empire, the Spanish left a lasting impression that worked in their favor. By establishing this foreground, the Spanish quickly gained an alliance as Oglethorpe says “...The good reception of the Negroes at Augustine was spread about...” For the slaves, this reception was taken well because since the Spanish had converted the Kingdom earlier than other Empires, they grew up with the religion as it was being passed down form generation to generation. This growth and gradual spread of religion, even though it was initially forced, became a religion that the Slaves could easily connect to. With the sharing of religion with the Spanish, the salves went off running towards the Spanish after their arrival in South Carolina because they needed familiarity. Thus, …show more content…
When being taken away from their country to become slaves, the growing need for connection is what brought the shared Roman Catholic Religion to dissolve the barrier of Empire to Slave relationship in the Angolan mindset. With language, feeling as if the Spanish had already provided them their language, they felt indebted, but then equal once the action of killing those who only took without giving was completed. Therefore, due to the familiarity with religion and language with the Spanish, the Angolan slaves felt as if the superiority complex amongst them and slave masters was broken, thus equating to equality in their