| 1526 |
South Carolina |
At or near mouth of Pedee River |
First settlement within present borders of United States;
Spanish colony founded by Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon.
Several slaves rebelled, fled to Native Americans. |
| 1691 |
Virginia |
Middlesex County |
Revolt led by Mingoe; ravaged plantations in Rappahannock County, taking livestock, two guns, and more. |
| 1708 |
New York |
Newton, Long Island |
Slave rebellion, seven whites killed; rebels captured
and executed. |
| 1739 |
Maryland |
Annapolis |
Betrayal of a conspiracy involving about 200 slaves, who planned to seize the capitol building and establish their own government. At least one of the leading rebels was executed. |
| 1739 |
North Carolina |
Stono River |
The Stono Rebellion involved more than 60 slaves, led by an Angolan named Jemmy, who killed around 20 whites, seized property, including guns, and burned several homes before being confronted and eventually defeated by the militia. A contemporary account indicates that within the first two days of the revolt the militia company 'kill'd twenty odd more, and took about 40; who were immediately some shot, some hang'd, and some Gibbeted alive.' In some instances, those who were shot were decapitated and their heads were displayed on mile posts and doorsteps. |
| 1792 |
Virginia
North Carolina |
In Virginia, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, Northampton County, and two western counties now part of West Virginia. In North Carolina, area around Newbern. |
Alleged conspiracy of about 900 armed blacks to attack Norfolk and Portsmouth, with the massacre of the inhabitants. |
| 1800 |
Virginia |
Henrico County |
Revolt of a very large number of slaves, led by Gabriel, slave of Thomas Prosser. The plot was well organized but failed, due to disclosure by two slaves and inclement weather. Gabriel was captured and hanged; about 35 blacks were executed in all. The estimated number of those involved ranged widely from 1,000 to 10,000 or more. |
| 1816 |
Florida |
Apalachicola Bay |
Fort erected by British during the War of 1812 was taken
over by Seminoles, who were then pushed out by 300
fugitive slaves who used the fort as a base for raiding plantations. United States troops attacked the fort and
caused its magazine to explode, killing about 270 enslaved blacks. Only about 40 survived. |
| 1822 |
South Carolina |
Charleston |
Denmark Vesey's plot to revolt was one of the most serious, widespread, and carefully planned conspiracies. Vesey, a free black, was the only nonslave involved in the revolt. The plan to take Charleston was foiled by betrayals and the arrest of coconspirators Peter Toyas and Mingo Harth. The estimated total number of slaves involved in the uprising varied from 6,600 to 9,000. Of those, 131 were arrested and 37 were hanged, including Vesey. |
| 1831 |
Virginia |
Southampton County |
Major slave revolt led by Nat Turner. The revolt began August 22, 1831, with the participation of Turner and five others. Turner first killed his master and his family. From this point the insurrection grew, including about 70 slaves by the morning of August 23, by which time the rebels had covered about 32 km (20 mi) and had killed at least 57 whites. The slaves planned to attack Jerusalem, the county seat, in order to procure arms. When they stopped at a nearby plantation to recruit more slaves, the band was attacked by white militiamen, who were soon joined by hundreds of other soldiers. Many slaves were massacred during the engagement and apparently in reprisal, as many as 100. Nat Turner eluded capture until October 30; he was tried, convicted, and then hanged on November 11. Sixteen slaves and three free blacks had already been executed. |
| 1831 |
Virginia
North Carolina |
In Virginia, Richmond, Nansemond, Surry, and Prince George counties. |
Rumors and reports of plots during 1831. About 11 slaves were convicted in these counties, several were arrested in Norfolk and Fredericksburg, and 40 were jailed in Nansemond. Reports circulated of 2,000 to 3,000 blacks hiding in the Great Dismal Swamp (which extends from Southampton County into North Carolina). There was widespread militia activity as well as declarations of martial law, lynchings, arrests, beatings, and executions of blacks. |
| 1837 |
Louisiana |
Rapides Parish |
This plot, which was said to have been better planned and managed than any before, was betrayed by a slave. The revolt was to have begun in Alexandria but was delayed by a disagreement over how much killing of whites was to take place. Three free blacks and 50 to 60 slaves were arrested. The free blacks and nine slaves were hanged, and several were sentenced to life imprisonment. Two whites, one of whom was killed, were said to have been implicated. Federal troops were sent to the area to restore order. |
| 1840 |
Louisiana |
Parishes of Avoyelles, Rapides, St. Landry, Lafayette, Iberville, Vermillion, and St. Martin |
Reports circulated of large-scale conspiracies, with the alleged involvement of whites in some cases. In Iberville, 400 slaves rebelled but were easily defeated. Widespread arrests and executions occurred in all the areas. Blacks in Rapides and Avoyelles parishes had planned a mass flight to Mexico, but the plot was betrayed by its leader. Many of those implicated were lynched; authorities intervened to stop the slaughter. |
| 1845 |
Maryland |
St. Mary's, Charles, and Prince George's counties |
About 75 slaves, armed with a gun, a pistol, and the rest with scythes, swords, and clubs, set out for the free state of Pennsylvania. They were attacked near Rockville, about 80 km (50 mi) short of their goal. Several were shot, and 31 were captured and jailed. One free black was found guilty of complicity; one leader was hanged; the remaining participants were sold out of the state. |
| 1849 |
Georgia |
St. Mary's |
About 300 slaves planned to seize a steamboat and flee to the British West Indies. The plot was exposed and suppressed when the boat's arrival was delayed. |
| 1853 |
Louisiana |
New Orleans |
A free black man discovered and disclosed a plan of rebellion that involved whites, including a man named Dyson, formerly of Jamaica, who claimed to have the agreement of 100 whites to participate. Albert, a slave involved in the plot, claimed that the conspirators numbered 2,500. Albert, Dyson, and about 20 slaves were arrested. Their fates are unknown. |
| 1856 |
Tennessee |
Fayette County |
Thirty slaves and a white man were arrested in connection with plot believed to extend to 'the surrounding counties and states.' Unrest in Montgomery County in the north central part of the state and across the border in the iron foundries of Louisa, Kentucky, confirmed the plot. Many slaves and one white man were arrested. Conspiracies also were discovered in Obion (western Tennessee), Fulton, Kentucky, and in New Madrid and Scott counties in Missouri. There is some evidence that the white militant abolitionist John Fairfield was involved in the Tennessee plots. |
| 1858 |
Mississippi |
Coffeesville |
About 55 slaves belonging to the widow of former president James K. Polk refused to submit to whippings, took up implements, and barricaded themselves. Approximately 75 armed men overpowered the rebels. All the slaves were whipped, and four of the leaders were held for trial, of whom two were condemned to death. |
| 1858 |
Virginia |
Harpers Ferry |
Ardent white abolitionist John Brown and a band of 21 men---16 white and 5 black---raided the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, with the aim of procuring arms to support a widespread slave revolt in the area. At the end of a siege lasting 36 hours, Brown and 4 men were captured, 7 escaped, and 10 were killed. Brown and the others captured were executed. |
| 1860 |
North Carolina |
Plymouth in Washington County |
Many slaves were arrested in connection with a conspiracy
of about 300 slaves to march on Plymouth, set fire to the
town, seize money and weapons, and commandeer vessels
for escape. |
| 1860 |
Alabama |
Pine Level, Autaugaville, Prattville, Haynesville |
Several hundred blacks, along with a number of whites, plotted to rebel and redistribute the property of local slave owners. The proposed division of property was alleged to have extended to include land, homes, mules, and household furniture. At least 25 blacks and four whites were executed. |
| 1862 |
Mississippi |
Adams County |
The plot of a serious slave revolt, led by a black man named Orange, was discovered. Field slaves had communicated with escaped slaves, or maroons. It also was asserted that a white man, painted to look black, was implicated. Several leaders were hanged. Two other outbreaks are recorded in the state during July 1862. |
| 1862 |
Virginia |
Culpeper County |
A widespread plot was reported. Seventeen blacks, free and slave, were executed. Copies of the Emancipation Proclamation were found among them. |
| 1862 |
Kentucky |
Henry County |
Several fires were set, destroying numerous houses and barns. A general feeling of insecurity among whites was reported; in New Castle some 60 slaves paraded, 'singing political songs and shouting for Lincoln,' while no one dared to stop them. |
| 1864 |
North Carolina |
Currituck and Camden counties |
Reports of 'wild and terrible consequences of the negro
raids in this obscure . . . theatre of the war. About 400-500 blacks, setting fires, committing all sorts of horrible crimes
upon the inhabitants.' |
| 1864 |
Alabama |
Troy |
Plans for widespread rebellion revealed, opinion declared that white men, 'deserters and escaped Yankee prisoners,' were prominent in their formulation. This incident is the last known slave conspiracy within the present borders of the United States. |
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