Negro Act of 1740 facts for kids

The Negro Act of 1740 was a strict law passed in South Carolina in 1740. It was created after the Stono Rebellion in 1739, a large uprising by enslaved people. William Bull was the governor of the colony at that time.

This law made many things illegal for enslaved Africans. They were not allowed to travel freely, gather in groups, or grow their own food. They also couldn't earn money or learn to write. However, the law did not stop them from learning to read. The Act also allowed slave owners to use deadly force against enslaved people who rebelled. This harsh law stayed in effect until 1865.

Why the Law Was Created

The Negro Act of 1740 was a direct response to the Stono Rebellion. This rebellion was one of the largest slave revolts in the British colonies. It happened in September 1739, near the Stono River in South Carolina.

The Stono Rebellion

During the Stono Rebellion, a group of enslaved people gathered and tried to march to Spanish Florida, where they hoped to find freedom. They fought against their oppressors, but the rebellion was eventually put down by the colonial militia. The rebellion caused great fear among the white colonists in South Carolina. They worried about future uprisings.

Fear and Control

Because of this fear, the colonial government decided they needed stronger laws to control enslaved people. They wanted to prevent any more rebellions. The Negro Act of 1740 was their way of trying to keep enslaved people from gathering, communicating, or planning any further revolts. It aimed to make it harder for enslaved people to gain freedom or challenge the system of slavery.

What the Law Forbade

The Negro Act of 1740 was very detailed and strict. It took away many basic freedoms from enslaved people.

Restrictions on Movement and Assembly

The law made it illegal for enslaved people to leave their owner's property without permission. They also could not gather in groups. This was meant to stop them from organizing or planning any actions together.

Limits on Earning and Learning

Enslaved people were not allowed to earn their own money or grow their own food. This meant they depended completely on their owners for everything. The law also made it illegal for anyone to teach enslaved people to write. This was to prevent them from communicating in ways that could lead to rebellion or escape.

Owner's Power

The Act also gave slave owners more power. It allowed them to use deadly force against enslaved people who rebelled or resisted. This showed how severe the punishments could be for those who tried to fight against their enslavement.

The Law's Impact

The Negro Act of 1740 had a huge impact on the lives of enslaved people in South Carolina. It made their lives even harder and took away almost all their freedoms.

Lasting Effects

This law was one of the harshest slave codes in the American colonies. It set a pattern for how enslaved people were treated and controlled in the South. The Act remained in place for a very long time, until the end of the American Civil War in 1865, when slavery was finally abolished.

A Voice of Protest

Years later, in 1848, a South Carolina judge named John Belton O'Neall wrote about the Negro Act in his book, The Negro Law of South Carolina. He explained that under the law, any personal property an enslaved person might get was still legally owned by their master.

However, O'Neall was one of the few people who spoke out against parts of the Act. He argued that enslaved African Americans, many of whom were Christians, should be allowed to give testimony in court under oath. He believed they would take an oath seriously, just like other people. His views were unusual for his time.