The Stono Rebellion, also known as Cato's Conspiracy, was a significant slave rebellion that took place on September 9, 1739, in South Carolina. It was the largest slave uprising in the British mainland North American colonies before the American Revolution.

The rebellion was sparked by a group of around 20 enslaved Africans who seized weapons and ammunition from a store near the Stono River and began marching towards Spanish Florida, where they believed they would find freedom and possibly join the Spanish in their war against the British. As they marched, the group grew in numbers, reportedly reaching around 100 slaves.

The rebels burned houses and killed several white colonists along their way. However, their movement was eventually halted by local militia, who engaged in a battle with the rebels. Many of the rebels were killed, while others were captured and executed. The rebellion was ultimately unsuccessful, and its leaders were brutally punished.

The Stono Rebellion had a lasting impact on the institution of slavery in the colonies. In its aftermath, South Carolina passed the Negro Act of 1740, which imposed harsher restrictions on slaves, including limiting their ability to gather in groups, earn money, and learn to read and write. The rebellion also led to increased fears among white slave owners of further uprisings, prompting stricter control and surveillance of enslaved populations.