On the 9th of September, 1739 a group of around 20 South Carolinian slaves began a rebellion, marching south from Stono river. They gathered more slaves as they progressed, eventually numbering around 60, and killed several white people before being stopped by armed militia. In the following confrontation several slaves and whites were shot down, and the rebellion was suppressed. The causes of the rebellion have never been clear, but it led to the enforcement of the 1740 'Negro Act' which outlawed education and wages for slaves, as well as restricting their movement and assembly. It also imposed a 10 year ban on importing slaves from Africa and included penalties for owners who mistreated their slaves, though it became permissible to kill a rebellious slave.
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