Remembering the Victims of Slavery: 10 Organized Rebellions in History

Rapper J. Cole led a rebellion in his latest music video.

1712: Enslaved Africans Plan Uprising in NYC - By 1712, New York City had a large population of African slaves who lived in close proximity to each other in the southern region of Manhattan. After a midnight meeting, a group of approximately 30 slaves went out on April 6, 1712, and set a building on fire and then attacked several whites. The slaves were armed with guns, hatchets and swords, PBS.org writes. Soldiers captured the rebels and 21 were executed. Six, including a pregnant woman, were pardoned.  (Photo: MPI/Getty Images)
1739: The Stono Slave Rebellion - The Stono Slave Rebellion was the largest before the American Revolution. On Sept. 9, 1739, 20 slaves gathered near the Stono River in St. Paul’s Parish, South Carolina, killed two store owners and took ammunition. The group, led by an Angolan named Jemmy, eventually grew into about 100 as they made their way South to Florida, where they had heard some slaves found freedom. They went on to kill at least 20 whites. As word spread of the rebellion, a mob of 100 whites found the escapees and a shootout led to the death of 30 slaves. Those who were captured were executed. The uprising led to more strict laws against slaves, including taking away their right to learn to read.  (Photo: Universal History Archive/Getty Images)
1767: Smaller Towns Saw Resistance as Well - An unknown amount of slaves revolted against their overseers in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1767. When their actions were discovered, they were executed and their heads were hung from the town courthouse, the Boston Chronicle wrote in a 1768 issue.  (Photo: Universal History Archive/Getty Images)
1803: Blacks Plan Revolt After Ruling - Margaret Bradley, a Black woman, was convicted in York, Pennsylvania, for attempting to poison her master. When word reached the other Blacks in the town, a group broke out and set buildings on fire. Twenty were convicted of arson. Stricter laws were then imposed on Blacks following the uprising. (Photo: Three Lions/Getty Images)1811: The Charles Deslondes Slave Revolt - On Jan. 8, 1811, Charles, a 31-year-old slave on the Deslondes plantation in Louisiana began a rebellion by killing the son of Colonel Andry at the Andry plantation, an arsenal for the local military. They set five plantations on fire along the Mississippi River and gained more slaves with each stop. The slaves killed two slave owners, destroyed three plantations and made it 25 miles south before they were stopped by a militia dispatched by Governor William C. C. Claiborne on Jan. 10. Some slaves were able to flee into the swamps while others were captured and returned to their masters. Others fought the militia. Charles was caught and was executed at the Andry plantation.  (Photo Reproduction: Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images)

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1739: The Stono Slave Rebellion - The Stono Slave Rebellion was the largest before the American Revolution. On Sept. 9, 1739, 20 slaves gathered near the Stono River in St. Paul’s Parish, South Carolina, killed two store owners and took ammunition. The group, led by an Angolan named Jemmy, eventually grew into about 100 as they made their way South to Florida, where they had heard some slaves found freedom. They went on to kill at least 20 whites. As word spread of the rebellion, a mob of 100 whites found the escapees and a shootout led to the death of 30 slaves. Those who were captured were executed. The uprising led to more strict laws against slaves, including taking away their right to learn to read.  (Photo: Universal History Archive/Getty Images)

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