The Stono Rebellion, also known as Cato’s Rebellion, was a significant slave rebellion that took place in the colony of South Carolina on September 9, 1739. It was the largest slave uprising in the British mainland colonies prior to the American Revolution.

The rebellion was led by a literate slave named Jemmy, who was from the kingdom of Kongo in West Africa. Jemmy and a group of about 20 enslaved Africans gathered near the Stono River, which is where the rebellion got its name. They raided a local store, stealing weapons and ammunition, and then proceeded to march south toward Spanish Florida, where they believed they could find freedom and refuge with the Spanish.

As they marched, the rebels were joined by other slaves, and by the time they reached the Edisto River, their numbers had swelled to nearly 100. Along the way, they killed several white colonists and raised a flag inscribed with the word "Liberty."

The rebellion was eventually suppressed by local militia and plantation owners. The rebels were either killed in battle or captured and executed. In the aftermath of the uprising, the South Carolina legislature passed the Negro Act of 1740, which imposed harsher restrictions on enslaved Africans, including prohibitions on assembly, education, and moving freely.

The Stono Rebellion is a powerful reminder of the brutal conditions faced by enslaved Africans in the American colonies and the lengths to which they were willing to go to secure their freedom. It also serves as a symbol of resistance and defiance against the oppressive institution of slavery.