Denmark Vesey

Denmark Vesey (originally Telemanque) was an American slave and entrepreneur who planned what would have been a large slave rebellion had word of the plans not been leaked.

Related Topics:
American - Slave - Entrepreneur - Slave rebellion

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Vesey was taken from West Africa through Santo Domingue (present day Haiti) to South Carolina as a youth, where he was made a slave. In 1800, he won a street lottery; he used the money to start a successful carpentry business and thus escape slavery. He cofounded a Black Methodist church in 1816, which was shut down by white authorities in 1820.

Related Topics:
West Africa - Haiti - South Carolina - 1800 - Carpentry - Methodist - 1816 - 1820

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

However, he retained immense empathy with American slaves. Perhaps inspired by the way slaves coordinated their slave revolution in Santo Domingue (know today as the Haitian Revolution), he planned what would have been the largest slave rebellion in U.S. history. His insurrection, which was to take place on July 14, 1822, became known by about 9,000 slaves and free blacks throughout Charleston who were to participate. The plot was leaked by slaves loyal to their white owners who overheard talks of rebellion, and 131 people were charged with conspiracy by Charleston authorities. 67 men were convicted and 35 hanged, including Denmark Vesey.

Related Topics:
Haitian Revolution - Slave rebellion - July 14 - 1822 - Free blacks - Charleston

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Recent scholarship by Michael Johnson, of the Johns Hopkins University, has indicated that Vesey may have been framed. He points to the fact that besides court records, no other evidence exists of Vesey's plans to lead the revolt. http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20020311&c=1&s=wiener

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

During the American Civil War, Frederick Douglass used Vesey's name as a battlecry to rally African-American regiments, especially the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.

Related Topics:
American Civil War - Frederick Douglass - 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~