“And about this time I had a vision — and I saw white spirits and black spirits engaged in battle, and the sun was darkened – the thunder rolled in the Heavens, and blood flowed in streams – and I heard a voice saying, “Such is your luck, such you are called to see, and let it come rough or smooth, you must surely bear it." said Nat Turner when asked about his historic act of defiance which completely changed the south. Nathaniel “Nat” Turner was a slave born on October 2, 1800, who was known abroad for his mass killing spree in the “white south”. He believed that god chose him to avenge the sins of slavery. No other time has there been a widespread revolt of this caliber that struck slave owners with such fear and despair as this one.
Many people knew that Nat Turner was destined for greatness, he was very intelligent at such a young age and believed he was gods messenger to free his people. Some white’s believed turner to be a cruel man while others considered him as a religious extremist. Although those who considered Turner crazy they still anticipated having slavery abolished. In 1831 Nat Turner conducted one of the most violent slave rebellions in history. The main purpose of this rebellion was to show that the slaves were unhappy and to help end slavery, but the results of this rebellions were the complete opposite it caused considerable fear and for the slave codes to become stricter.
The Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner’s Fierce Rebellion Nat Turner struck back at the slave system with violence because he considered himself a prophet and felt that killing white people was God’s will. The original family that owned him gave him access to white children school books. The worst treatment of Nat Turner received as a slave was from Thomas Moore, who gave him a thrashing after Nat suggested that the slaves ought to be free and would be one day or another. I would not consider this abuse because many slaveholders would punish a slave for speaking against slavery. As a young adult, Nat Turner is said to have practically memorized all of the Old Testament.
Nat Turner was born into slavery in 1800 and was a spiritual leader among his fellow slaves (Wood 1). Turner believed himself to be prophet and claimed to have visions from God, in which he foresaw an “attack directly the institution of slavery,” and a spiritual battle between white and black spirits (Vox 2). A solar eclipse in February of 1831 was seen by Turner as his sign to strike against the institution of slavery and on August 21st of the same year he did, killing his owner’s family. Together with a group of slaves Turner continued his reign of terror across the county, raiding houses, recruiting more followers, and killing all whites they encountered. By the time word had spread of this rebellion Turner already had 50 men, including
The Fires of Jubilee is Stephen B. Oates jaw-dropping narrative of the dramatic events that took place in Southampton, Virginia in 1831. His book contains just a little examination or historiography, however centers the inconceivable extent of its 150+ pages on a direct recounting the rough occasions of the slave insubordination which broke out, and which will be associated with the name of its leader, Nat Turner. In Oates' record, white Virginia prided itself on its direct slave regime, even convincing itself that the slaves were not harassed into docility but rather were happy, slaves were extremely grateful for their lot. White Virginians looked down upon on what they viewed as the cruel and severe treatment of slaves in states known for
Nat Turner (October 2, 1800 – November 11, 1831) was an African-American slave who led a slave rebellion of slaves and free blacks in Southampton County, Virginia on August 21, 1831 that resulted in 60 white deaths. He led a group of other slave followers carrying farm implements on a killing spree. As they went from plantation to plantation they gathered horses, guns, freed other slaves along the way, and recruited other blacks that wanted to join their revolt. At the end of their rebellion they were accused of the deaths of fifty white people.[2]
Voices of the American Civil War: Nat Turner Zoe Kolat Nat Turner was a very driven, religious, and rebellious man. He was born into slavery in the hands of Benjamin Turner who owned and lived on a plantation in Southampton, Virginia. He was born on October 2nd, 1800 to his mother Nancy (we have no information concerning his biological father). Benjamin took great care of Nat, and cared about him deeply, he even instructed him to be properly educated at a young age.
I think the only thing I support about this revolts is that it kind of open others mind to fight for themselves. I support more of Vesey’s way of rebellion because it wasn’t too violent were as Turner killed innocent women and children. On Turner rebellions, it is bloody but I think since it became one of the famous rebellion it really push lots of slaves to speak up for what they believe is right. I understand that whites needed the slave to work on their plantations but not to the point where the slaves did not have rest or they get paid so little and some of them not even.
Slaves knew that running away from their master would be hard, due to the lack of trust they were given. As time passed, slaves became wiser, and more determined to be free. Many slaves set up plans, and met with men that would help them escape the horrible lives they faced. Many slaves decided to create plans that would help them get out of their lives as servants, knowing that the consequences would be brutal. According to Dr. Bryan Walls, “Henry Box Brown” from KQED he says “a White sympathizer.
This primary source is a text that came into fruition after Nat Turner was captured in 1831 in the Southampton county jail. This was where he was interviewed by a physician named Thomas R. Gray. Nat Turner led the only effective sustained slave rebellion in U.S History, setting terror throughout the white south Gray, in his foreword to Turner's Confessions, even states that "never did a band of savages do their work of death more sparingly," leading his revelation that such, in his opinion, mentally embryonic people could devise such a plot. In addition, description of the slaves as savages" further connects Native Americans and slaves. Secondary source: abolition.nypl.org
Would you expect a young, black, educated slave, to be a leader of one of the most bloodiest slave rebellions ever? On October of 1800, Nathaniel “Nat” Turner was born a slave on Benjamin Turner’s plantation in Southampton County, VA. He was allowed to read, write and learn religion (“Nat Turner”). Samuel Turner was in a lot of debut so Reverend Zalthall set up appointments for Nat to preach to slaves from plantation to plantation. The slave owners hoped this would make their slaves want to work willing and to be obedient.
Nat Turner was born in 1800 into slavery in Southampton, Virginia, about twenty miles from the North Carolina border. Turner’s experience was typical of slaves on southern plantations. He had little freedom; he could not legally marry, travel without his master’s permission, own property, or earn money. He was forced to work long, hard hours in the fields for meager rations of food and clothing, and if he refused he faced the whip or other punishment. And, like many slaves, Turner was sold several times to different masters.
This is accurate in its portrayal of how racist Southern people were during this time in history. But it is inaccurate in that Melanie is staying that the enslaved blacks were happy with their conditions. History tells this is untrue for the simple and clear reason that many slave rebellions that took place in the South. Perhaps the most famous of those rebellions was Nat Turner’s rebellion in 1831.