This Day in Black History

New York Slave Rebellion
A depiction of the New York Slave Rebellion in 1712

On this date in 1712, the New York Slave Rebellion occurred.

Reacting to harsh treatment by their masters, about 25 Black slaves and American Indians set fire to an outhouse and laid in ambush of their oppressors, killing nine men and wounding several others. The slaves then fled into the woods where within two days more than 40 had been arrested and 6 others committed suicide before apprehension. Twenty-seven slaves were convicted of murder and sentenced to death, although the bulk of the evidence used to convict them was questionable. eighteen were acquitted, six, including a pregnant woman, were let go.

Read more about the rebellion here.

Learn about America’s nearly three centuries of enslavement.

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