Home / Full timeline / Denmark Vesey’s planned revolt in Charleston, SC is foiled when two enslaved Blacks inform Charleston officials of the plot.
Denmark Vesey’s planned revolt in Charleston, SC is foiled when two enslaved Blacks inform Charleston officials of the plot.
1822 (Jun 5)
Denmark Vesey, likely born into slavery in St. Thomas before being brought to Charleston, purchased his freedom after winning a lottery around the age of 32. He became a co-founder of the second largest African Methodist Episcopal church in the nation, attracting over 1,800 members (more than 10% of Blacks in the city, mostly enslaved Blacks). In 1821, Vesey and a few of his followers began to plan a revolt, kill slaveholders in Charleston, liberate the enslaved, and sail to the Black republic of Haiti for refuge. Vesey would review plans of the revolt with his followers at his home during religious classes, inspiring them by connecting their potential freedom to the Biblical story of Exodus, and God's delivery of the children of Israel from Egyptian slavery. By some accounts, the revolt would have involved thousands of enslaved Blacks in the city as well as others who lived on plantations which were located miles away. Two enslaved Blacks, however, who were deeply loyal to their enslavers, informed the city officials of the plot, who then sent a militia to arrest the plot's leaders and many suspected followers on June 22, before the rising could begin, which was believed to be planned for July 14. No white people were killed or injured. Vesey, about 55 years old at the time, and five enslaved Blacks were among the first group of men to be rapidly judged guilty by the secret proceedings of a city-appointed court and condemned to death. The suspects were allowed visits by ministers; Dr. Benjamin Palmer visited Vesey after he was sentenced to death, and Vesey told the minister that he would die for a "glorious cause". They were executed by hanging on July 2, 1822. In later proceedings, some 30 additional followers were executed. His son Sandy was also found guilty of conspiracy and deported from the United States, along with many others. City authorities ordered that the church should be razed and its minister was expelled from the city.