Nat turners rebellion was a slave rebellion that took place in southampton county, virginia. In february 1831, a solar eclipse seemed to turner to be the sign he was waiting for, and he began preparations for an insurrection. Judith edwards a biography of the slave and preacher who, believing that god wanted him to free the slaves, led a major revolt in 1831. Nat turner was a black preacher, a deeply religious man who saw visions and claimed directives from god. Nat turner s rebellion a 48 hour slave rebellion in which a group of slaves unsuccessful attempt to overthrow and kill planter families. In the summer of 1831, a band of some forty slaves led by nat turner attacked slaveowning residents of southampton county, virginia. Virginians of course had no public response to the rebellion. Leader of the most important slave rebellion on these shores, variously viewed as a murderer of unarmed women and children, an inspired religious leader, a fanaticthis puzzling figure represents all the terrible complexities of american slavery. Nat turner rebellion on august 21 1831 turner led 50 african american men on a murdering rampage through virginia. Turners rebellion was the largest slave revolt in u.
During nat turner s rebellion, the rebels avoided giles reese plantation, even though it was in route, likely because nat wanted to keep cherry and the children safe. Southern slave uprisings were so few and so small because of the absolute certainty that they would be brutally repressed. The confession of nat turner read by brock peters 1968 john henrik clark duration. Resulting in the deaths of over 50 whites, the rebellion was successful in its attempts to spread fear to white slave owners in the. While there were more than two dozen known slave revolts in the u. Nat turner s rebellion the leader of a slave insurrection in virginia, known as the. Nat turner s name rings through american history with a force all its own. Nat turner october 2, 1800 november 11, 1831 was an enslaved africanamerican preacher who led the fourday rebellion of enslaved and free black people in southampton county, virginia in 1831. Using axes, hatchets and knives, they tortured, butchered, and killed entire white families, woman,children and even infants most of whom were non slave owning. Nat turner a slave rebellion essay 1240 words bartleby.
Example research essay topic nat turner slave revolt. Nat turners rebellion on august 21, 1831, turner and his supporters began a revolt against white slave owners with the killing of his owners, the travis family. Nathanial nat turner 18001831 was a black american slave who led the only effective, sustained slave rebellion august 1831 in u. Turner states that he had many convictions from the lord that it was his duty in life to rebel against slavery and do that task at whatever the cost. One of the largest and most violent revolts in the history of the young nation, the rebellion took the lives of some sixty white men, women, and children. The first fulllength study of the bloodiest slave uprising in u. It was published by westholme publishing and has a total of 288 pages in the book. The turner rebellion is usually given as the reason for the marked increase in. I t was in august of 1831 that nat turner led a rebellion of virginia slaves that left dozens of people dead, including small children.
Regardless, while authorities were in search of nat, they went looking for cherry as well. The story of nat turner and his slave rebellionwhich began on august 21. In the matter of nat turner princeton university press. The images from nat turners rebellion of armed black men roaming the country side slaying white men, women, and children haunted white southerners and. The inspiration for the acclaimed 2016 movie birth of a nation. After more than two months in hiding, turner was captured, and quickly convicted and executed.
All that were to be involved in the revolt, would wear red bandannas around their necks to signify cooperation. One issue that appears throughout history and does not discriminate to any race, religion or creed is slavery. A slave rebellion in history and memory, kenneth s. In 1831 virginia, nat turner led a band of southampton county slaves in a rebellion that killed fiftyfive whites, mostly women and children. South carolina 1822, and nat turners uprising in jerusalem, virginia 1831, are the best known. Background history, the cotton cash crop and the growth of slavery nat turner s rebellion was a direct result of the growth of slavery in the south. The literary battle for nat turners legacy vanity fair. Nat turners rebellion, the uprising that shook virginia. Nat turner slave rebellion 1831 insurrection in southampton, virginia duration. During a twoday rampage, more than 50 whites were killed, mostly by being stabbed or hacked to death.
To some he is a hero, a symbol of black resistance and a precursor to the civil rights movement. Learn more by accessing the free, digitized primary documents about nat turner and his rebellion at the nat turner project. Nat turner s rebellion on august 21, 1831, turner and his supporters began a revolt against white slave owners with the killing of his owners, the travis family. Infected by the febrile religiosity, and expectation of the. The virginia legislature actually debated ending slavery, but chose instead to impose additional restrictions and harsher penalties on the activities of both enslaved and free african americans. Nate parker as nat turner, center, in the birth of a nation. Nat turners slave rebellion in american history book. One hundred and fifty years ago yesterday, on august 21, 1831, nat turner, a field slave, led the first slave rebellion in virginia. On the night of august 21, 1831, following eclipses from the sun, which turner took as a sign from god, he and four other slaves, launched the bloody insurrection of the nat turner slave rebellion. One of the most significant slave rebellions happened in 1831, and was called nat turners rebellion.
Nat turner s rebellion also known as the southampton insurrection was a slave rebellion that took place in southampton county, virginia, in august 1831, led by nat turner. The story of nat turner and his slave rebellion which began on august 21, 1831, in southampton county, virginiais known among school children and adults. He led an insurrection in southampton county, virginia in 1831 killing. Nat turner was literate, charismatic and highly devout, holding baptist services for his fellow slaves who dubbed him the prophet. On august 22, 1831, nat turner and six fellow slaves began their attack. French vividly traces thepostmortem career of nat turner as an alternately loved. Nat turner saw vision and attacked whites in southampton county, va.
In speeches and writings, slave owners portrayed themselves not so much as ruthless businessmen exploiting a people for their labor but as kind and wellintentioned masters tutoring blacks in civilization and religion. Trigger events of the civil war american battlefield trust. Nat turners rebellion was an intensely violent episode which broke out in august 1831 when slaves in southeastern virginia rose up against white residents of the area. Apthekers book includes turner s confessions, recorded before his execution in 1831. Leader of the most important slave rebellion on these shores, variously viewed as a murderer of unarmed women and children, an inspired religious leader, a fanaticthis puzzling figure represents all the terrible complexities of. He was respected as a boy by all and sundry, a very intelligent and smart man. The invention of the eli whitney cotton gin had made slave labor vastly more profitable as cotton became a highly profitable cash crop that used the slave plantation system of farming. In august of 1831, a slave named nat turner incited an uprising that spread. Greenberg gathers twelve distinguished scholars to offer provocative new insight into the man, his rebellion, and his time, and his place in history. His slave rebellion continues to claim its place in history. Discover 10 things you may not know about nat turners rebellion at history, and listen nat turner, a song about the revolt that was written.
Nat turner s rebellion led to the passage of a series of new laws. In 1810, nat turner became the property to samuel turner, after his brother, the man. The event is recalled as one of the only slave rebellions in the united states. Rebel slaves killed from 55 to 65 people, at least 51 being white. The title of this book is nat turner s rebellion and it was written by john v. Born into slavery on october 2, 1800, in southampton county, virginia, an area with more blacks than whites, turner was recorded as nat by benjamin turner, the man who held his mother and him as. This essay takes up two tasks in addressing the confessions of. Nat turners rebellion in 1831 frightened southerners because it challenged the idea that slavery was a benevolent institution. Automatically push a clip link to your favorite service. Push away from the table at two oclock for a long walk with his dogs, while he.
The evils of the nat turner rebellion civil war history. John floyd, slave and free negro letter book unbound. With four men he could trust henry, hark, nelson, and sam turner laid his plans. Nat turner rebellion took place in southampton county, virginia, in 1831. In 1831, nat turner led a revolt in southampton county, virginia. The rebellion was put down within a few days, but turner survived in hiding for more than two months afterwards. The historians here explore turners slave community, discussing the support for his uprising as well as the religious and literary context of his movement. Confessions of nat turner is a profoundly disturbing docu ment purporting to. In his 1967 novel, the confessions of nat turner, william styron, a white. Nat turner was born october 2nd, 1800 in southampton county, virginia. His book was derived partly from research gray did while turner was in. In the summer of 1831, a band of some forty slaves led by nat turner. The brutal aftermath sends shock waves throughout the south. Uncle toms cabin was the secondbestselling book in america in the 19th.
Nat turner comic read nat turner comic online in high. On august, the sun appeared bluegreen in the sky, and turner and his friends took this as the final sign. Author patrick breen discussed his book, the land shall be deluged in blood. Nat turner and his coconspirators did something truly incredible, although it was through extreme violence, the statement would shape slaverys future, and their reasons behind their brutality were incredibly human. Nathanial nat turner 1800 1831 was a black american slave who led the only effective, sustained slave rebellion august 1831 in u. Nat turner launches massive slave revolt in virginia history. Turner gave the order to kill all whites and the majority were killed in their sleep.
Nat turner october 2, 1800 november 11, 1831 was an enslaved. Saturday, august, 1831 the sky was supposedly a greenish blue color nat turner s slave rebellion by herbert aptheker, and this caused nat to again to tell his four men to spread the word. Nat turners rebellion of 1831 was one of the bloodiest. Onehundred and eightyfive years ago this week, in the. Religion influenced nat turner, birth of a nation toledo blade. Nat turners rebellion was one of the largest slave rebellions ever to take place in the united states, and it played an important role in the development of antebellum slave society.
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