5. The Creole Slave Revolt
War and blood often define revolutions, but the Creole Slave Revolt stands out from the rest by being one of the best examples of adventure and romance in revolt. A ship named Creole sailed towards New Orleans containing as many as 135 slaves where they were to be sold. The revolt started when one of the ship’s crew, Madison Washington rose to the occasion and started making escape plans from the ship together with the other slaves. Washington was the ship’s cook, and when he was suspected for igniting a revolt inside, he led an attack with the slaves. In the ensuing battle, not many were killed, but the slaves were able to take control of the ship and force the crew to sail it to the Bahamas. The Bahamas was then a land against slavery, and when the ship reached the destination, all the slaves were released. Madison was tried along with his few conspirators but was later released. The background story of the entire revolt was based on the life of Madison Washington who was on a mission to find out his lost wife and amidst his quest, he was captured and sold to Creole. But as soon as he was released, he reunited with his wife as she was a slave of Creole from the very beginning, unknown to Madison. The Creole slave revolt is important in the pages of history as it marked the passing of the Negro Seaman Act in 1842 by the American Government.
