In 1811, the year before Louisiana became a US state, the Territory of Orleans had one of the largest slave revolts in US history. A story that has been almost completely wiped from history. Between 64 and 125 enslaved Black men marched, gathering more enslaved to their group as they marched from the sugar plantations where they were enslaved towards New Orleans. Some say that by the end, as much as 500 slaves were involved. During the two-day march, the men burned some plantation houses, sugarhouses, and crops. White militia attacked the Black men, killing nearly fifty of them before they were captured. In the end, two white people were killed in the revolt's actions. Between the militia's killing and the trials afterwards, 90 to 95 Black men lost their lives because of the revolt. The men who were sentenced were killed either by hanging or shooting, and many were then decapitated, their heads put on pikes to remind other enslaved people of the consequences of going against the slave owners.
Sources:
- Wikipedia: 1811 German Coast Uprising
- Smithsonian Magazine: How a Nearly Successful Slave Revolt Was Intentionally Lost to History
- Andry's Rebellion
- Slave Insurrection of 1811
- Little Known Black History Fact: German Coast Uprising of 1811
- Louisiana’s Heroic Slave Revolt
- 1811 Slave Revolt
- The 1811 Louisiana slave revolt that was almost lost to history
- 1811 German Coast Slave Uprising
- America's Largest Slave Revolt
Like with Nat Turner's revolt later, there were violence against those who held people in horrific bondage. And Turner probably took some ideas from this revolt, as many of his tactics were similar. Before you get upset that the enslaved men killed two people, keep in mind what they had likely been living through. Half rations or no rations. Whippings and beatings for any possible reason their foreman or master could come up with. Being forcibly separated from your family, your marriage never recognized. Clothes of coarse cloth. Your living quarters of the lowest possible needs for living--shacks with very little shelter of poor wood, leftovers or trash from the main house as your food. None of us would be happy with it. No one should have ever had to suffer through it.
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