A series of fires and rumors of a planned slave uprising in New York City led to mass hysteria in the spring of 1741. Fueled by racial tensions and paranoia, authorities conducted aggressive investigations, resulting in the execution of 31 enslaved people and 5 white colonists. Dozens of others were deported or imprisoned. Historians now view the events as a tragic example of racial scapegoating and judicial overreach in colonial America.
© 2025 KnowThyHistory.com. Know Thy History
