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Stono Rebellion
In South Carolina, almost 100 slaves were led by Jemmy, a literate slave, in an uprising against white colonists. The rebels were able to kill 20 whites and burn 7 plantations, on the first day. However, they were all defeated by a white militia the following day. This is considered the largest uprising in colonial North America. -
Negro Act
In response to Stono Rebellion, South Carolina passed the An Act for the Better Ordering and Governing of Negroes and Other Slaves. The act was meant to prevent slave uprisings by disallowing them from assembling, growing their own food, getting an education, or earning manumission money. Other colonies, fearing a slave uprising, made sure to not let their white colonists be out numbered by slaves. -
Dunmores Proclamation
In an attempt to take advantage of the racial tensions in the colonies, the royal governor of Virginia offered freedom to any slave who fights for the British. Similar to the way that the Spanish offered freedom to slaves who escaped to Florida, sparking the Stono Rebellion. This reinforces the fact that other nations were aware and tried to expose the Colonies' reliance on slavery. -
Mum Bett
Child of enslaved African parents from New York, Mum Bett was sold into slavery at the age of 6 months. Her and her sister were bought by John Ashley of Massachusetts. After the mistress of the house attempted to hit Mum Bett's sister, she found a lawyer, named Theodore Sedgewick, to help her sue for her freedom. The court found in favor of Bett and brought Massachusetts a step closer to abolishing slavery. -
Three-Fifths Compromise
Proposed by James Wilson and Roger Sherman, the plan stated that slaves counted as 3/5 of a person. This was because the southern states wanted more representation in congress and needed a higher population count. For the first time slaves were recognized in population count, even if just a fraction. Unfortunately, the southern states would have more incentive to retain their numbers of slaves high to allow them better representation. -
Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney applied for a patent on his cotton gin. The device streamlined the cotton picking process and made the cotton industry more profitable. As a result, the market value and need of slaves also went up. Now slave owners had more incentive to keep slaves.
