Question 2
Chose a rebellion from the list below and research it. Write 2-3 paragraphs on your
findings, including why the group of people rebelled and how it changed history. You
may use evidence from your research to help support your claims. You may use your
primary and/or your secondary source to help with your paragraph if it fits. Be sure to
proofread and use proper grammar.
Choose from:
• Nat Turner Rebellion
• New York Conspiracy of 1741
• German Coast Uprising of 1811
• Amistad Rebellion
• Stono Rebellion
The Stono Rebellion, also known as Cato's Rebellion, took place in September 1739 in South Carolina. It is considered one of the earliest and largest slave uprisings in American history. The rebellion was led by a literate slave named Cato, who organized a group of around 20 slaves to march south towards Spanish Florida, where they believed they would find freedom. Along the way, they seized weapons, killed several white colonists, and attempted to recruit more slaves to join their rebellion. However, their revolt was ultimately unsuccessful, as they were intercepted by a white militia, resulting in the deaths of many rebels and the capture and execution of others.
The Stono Rebellion had a significant impact on history as it led to the tightening of slave codes and restrictions in the Southern colonies. In response to the rebellion, South Carolina passed the Negro Act of 1740, which prohibited slaves from assembling in groups, growing their own food, earning money, and learning to read and write. The Act also imposed harsher punishments on slaves for disobedience and running away. This further reinforced the brutal system of slavery in the South and sought to suppress any future rebellions by instilling fear and control over the enslaved population. The Stono Rebellion highlighted the deep-seated resistance of enslaved people against their bondage and the extreme measures taken by slaveholders to maintain control and power.