The Stono Rebellion, also known as Cato’s Conspiracy or Cato’s Rebellion, was a slave uprising that commenced on September 9, 1739, in the colony of South Carolina. Enslaved Africans, led by a man named Jemmy (also called Cato), initiated a march toward Spanish Florida, where they believed they could attain freedom. They gathered recruits along the way, killing white colonists and burning buildings. The rebellion was ultimately suppressed by the South Carolina militia near the Edisto River.
This event holds significant importance in the context of American history due to its impact on slave codes and colonial anxieties. The rebellion prompted the passage of the Negro Act of 1740, which restricted enslaved people’s assembly, education, and movement. It also temporarily halted the importation of slaves into South Carolina and intensified the surveillance and control exerted over the enslaved population. The uprising exposed the simmering tensions and resistance inherent in the institution of slavery and influenced subsequent debates and actions surrounding the issue.
