The 1837 Tortola Slave Conspiracy: A Plot That Never Was

The Atlantic Slave Trade: Empire Built on Human Suffering — Fexingo History · Jun 13, 2026 · 4m · transcript

In 1837, just three years after the British Empire abolished slavery in its colonies, the small island of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands was shaken by rumors of a massive slave conspiracy. Planters claimed to have uncovered a plot involving arson, poison, and a coordinated uprising across the island. Dozens of enslaved people were arrested, tried, and executed—but historians now believe the conspiracy was largely fabricated by a terrified white elite. This episode explores the so-called Tortola Slave Conspiracy of 1837, examining how post-emancipation fears, economic anxiety, and…