Forms Of Resistance Rebellion - 1312 Words

Forms of Resistance: Rebellion Throughout the three-hundred years that slavery was exercised in the United States, there were many forms of resistance to the horrors it entailed. Everything from acts of sabotage, poor work, feigning illness, arson, poisoning, and running away to the North were used to undermine the institution (Foner;Garraty). Perhaps one of the most prolific and impactful forms of resistance to slavery were the numerous rebellions and revolts (Foner;Garraty). Although many revolts were put down quickly after their initiation, a select few significant political effects. The Gloucester Conspiracy, the South Carolina â€Å"Stono†¦show more content†¦The men agreed on a plan to collect weapons and ammunition to lead a march to the governor, Sir William Berkeley to request release from their indentures. This plan was ultimately foiled by a servant and four conspirators were hanged and the others arrested. The Gloucester County conspiracy was significant in a few different ways. Firstly, the conspiracy staged a rebellion on a scale never before imagined compared to the small acts of disobedience sometimes encountered with servants. The revolt included weapons and enough intent and ambition to use them, which may have caused a violent and bloody outcome. Secondly, the timing of the conspiracy was in the middle of a transition from servitude to full enslavement in the Virginia Colonies. The great demand for labor was at its high point of the time and landowners desperately needed some form of it (Wolfe). This is significant because although indentured servitude is not entirely slavery, the fact that a group of people would be angry enough to harm or kill to attain freedom scared many owners, and slavery would only cause greater anger. The 1739 Stono Rebellion was arguably the bloodiest revolt in the history of colonial America and was definitely one of the most frightening. By the end of the uprising, over sixty people were dead and the South Carolina colony was left bewi ldered (Stono Rebellion). Named the â€Å"Stono Rebellion† for its location