Glossary
An Account of the Stono Rebellion (1739)
A primary source account detailing the motivations and actions of the enslaved people involved in the Stono Rebellion.
Example:
Reading An Account of the Stono Rebellion offers crucial insights into the direct impact of Spanish Florida's promise of freedom on the enslaved population's resistance efforts.
Asylum Policy
The policy enacted by Spanish Florida offering refuge and freedom to enslaved people who escaped from British territories and converted to Catholicism.
Example:
Spanish Florida's asylum policy created a powerful magnet for enslaved individuals, fundamentally altering the dynamics of slavery in the British colonies.
Catholicism
The Christian faith and practice of the Roman Catholic Church. Conversion to Catholicism was a key requirement for enslaved people seeking freedom in Spanish Florida.
Example:
For those fleeing enslavement, embracing Catholicism was not merely a spiritual act but a pragmatic step towards gaining their liberty in Spanish territories.
Fort Mose
The first sanctioned free Black town in what is now the United States, established in 1738 by the governor of Spanish Florida.
Example:
Under the leadership of Francisco Menéndez, Fort Mose stood as a powerful symbol of Black autonomy and resistance against slavery.
Francisco Menéndez
A formerly enslaved Senegambian who became the leader of Fort Mose, known for his military leadership against the English.
Example:
Francisco Menéndez exemplified the agency of formerly enslaved people, leading a community that defied the norms of colonial society.
Governor Montiano's Letter (1739)
A primary source document from the Governor of Spanish Florida, providing a firsthand account of tensions with British colonies regarding runaway slaves.
Example:
Studying Governor Montiano's Letter helps historians understand the strategic anxieties caused by Spanish Florida's asylum policy for the British.
Jemmy
An enslaved man from the Angola region who led the Stono Rebellion in South Carolina.
Example:
Jemmy organized nearly 100 enslaved African Americans, leading them in a desperate bid for freedom that shook the foundations of the colonial South.
Resistance
The act of opposing or withstanding something, often referring to the various ways enslaved people challenged their bondage.
Example:
The establishment of Fort Mose and the Stono Rebellion are powerful examples of organized resistance against the institution of slavery.
Safe Haven
A place of refuge or security, especially for those fleeing danger or persecution. Spanish Florida and Fort Mose served as such for enslaved people.
Example:
Fort Mose became a vital safe haven where formerly enslaved individuals could build a community and live without fear of re-enslavement.
Slave Code of 1740
A harsh set of laws passed in South Carolina in 1740 in response to the Stono Rebellion, designed to severely restrict the movement and autonomy of enslaved people.
Example:
The Slave Code of 1740 imposed brutal restrictions, such as prohibiting enslaved people from gathering in groups or learning to read, in an attempt to prevent future uprisings.
Spanish Florida
A Spanish colony that offered freedom to enslaved Africans from British territories who converted to Catholicism, serving as a significant refuge.
Example:
Many enslaved people in colonial South Carolina viewed Spanish Florida as a beacon of hope, a place where they could potentially escape bondage.
Stono Rebellion
A significant slave revolt in South Carolina in 1739, partly inspired by the promise of freedom in Spanish Florida.
Example:
The Stono Rebellion demonstrated the fierce desire for liberty among enslaved people, as they marched towards Spanish Florida seeking sanctuary.