Marie-Joseph Angélique was an enslaved woman in Montreal, New France, accused of deliberately setting a fire that occurred on April 10, 1734, which devastated a substantial portion of the city. Following the fire, which billeted thousands and left many homeless, authorities quickly directed their investigation towards Angélique. Various witnesses, some of whom may have harbored personal vendettas, testified against her, leading to a swift trial riddled with prejudices. In colonial New France, the legal system often treated enslaved individuals with utmost severity, and Angélique’s status as a slave compounded the scrutiny she faced, emphasizing the systematic discrimination prevalent at the time. Despite her innocence claims, she was deemed guilty. The execution by hanging meant not only the end of Angélique’s life but also served as a grim warning to others regarding the consequences of rebellion or defiance against a system rooted in oppression and subjugation.

Marie-Joseph Angélique’s trial and execution not only spotlight the harsh realities of chattel slavery in colonial Canada but also the societal views toward women, particularly women of color. The case against her was built upon circumstantial evidence and dubious witness accounts, raising questions about the fairness of the justice she received. Amidst public speculation and sensationalism, her execution became a spectacle, reflecting the community's need for a scapegoat in the aftermath of the disaster. In this way, the tragedy became intertwined with the broader historical narrative of colonial social hierarchies, implicating the interplay of race, gender, and power dynamics in regulations that governed enslaved individuals. Angélique became a figure who embodied the struggles associated with marginalized identities in colonial environments, as fear and prejudice found a focal point in her fate, forever marking the memory of both the individual and the circumstances surrounding her trial.