Example research essay topic nat turner slave revolt. Nate parker as nat turner, center, in the birth of a nation. After more than two months in hiding, turner was captured, and quickly convicted and executed. South carolina 1822, and nat turners uprising in jerusalem, virginia 1831, are the best known.
Learn more by accessing the free, digitized primary documents about nat turner and his rebellion at the nat turner project. French vividly traces thepostmortem career of nat turner as an alternately loved. 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. 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. 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. His book was derived partly from research gray did while turner was in. Nat turners rebellion of 1831 was one of the bloodiest. 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.
Regardless, while authorities were in search of nat, they went looking for cherry as well. In the summer of 1831, a band of some forty slaves led by nat turner attacked slaveowning residents of southampton county, virginia. The turner rebellion is usually given as the reason for the marked increase in. While there were more than two dozen known slave revolts in the u. A slave rebellion in history and memory, kenneth s. The title of this book is nat turner s rebellion and it was written by john v. Turner gave the order to kill all whites and the majority were killed in their sleep. Religion influenced nat turner, birth of a nation toledo blade.
All that were to be involved in the revolt, would wear red bandannas around their necks to signify cooperation. Nat turner s rebellion the leader of a slave insurrection in virginia, known as the. Nat turners rebellion, the uprising that shook virginia. Nat turner was literate, charismatic and highly devout, holding baptist services for his fellow slaves who dubbed him the prophet.
Trigger events of the civil war american battlefield trust. The first fulllength study of the bloodiest slave uprising in u. In february 1831, a solar eclipse seemed to turner to be the sign he was waiting for, and he began preparations for an insurrection. Nat turner s rebellion a 48 hour slave rebellion in which a group of slaves unsuccessful attempt to overthrow and kill planter families. He led an insurrection in southampton county, virginia in 1831 killing.
Nat turners rebellion in 1831 frightened southerners because it challenged the idea that slavery was a benevolent institution. The rebellion was put down within a few days, but turner survived in hiding for more than two months afterwards. He was respected as a boy by all and sundry, a very intelligent and smart man. 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.
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. 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. Southern slave uprisings were so few and so small because of the absolute certainty that they would be brutally repressed. 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 event is recalled as one of the only slave rebellions in the united states.
In 1810, nat turner became the property to samuel turner, after his brother, the man. Onehundred and eightyfive years ago this week, in the. One hundred and fifty years ago yesterday, on august 21, 1831, nat turner, a field slave, led the first slave rebellion in virginia. The inspiration for the acclaimed 2016 movie birth of a nation. With four men he could trust henry, hark, nelson, and sam turner laid his plans. In 1831, nat turner led a revolt in southampton county, virginia. Nat turners slave rebellion in american history book. 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. Nat turner s rebellion led to the passage of a series of new laws. The confession of nat turner read by brock peters 1968 john henrik clark duration. Nat turner comic read nat turner comic online in high. It was published by westholme publishing and has a total of 288 pages in the book.
On august, the sun appeared bluegreen in the sky, and turner and his friends took this as the final sign. 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. 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. The images from nat turners rebellion of armed black men roaming the country side slaying white men, women, and children haunted white southerners and. In the matter of nat turner princeton university press. 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. 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. On august 22, 1831, nat turner and six fellow slaves began their attack. The evils of the nat turner rebellion civil war history. Nat turner was a black preacher, a deeply religious man who saw visions and claimed directives from god. Uncle toms cabin was the secondbestselling book in america in the 19th. Virginians of course had no public response to the rebellion.
John floyd, slave and free negro letter book unbound. 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. The story of nat turner and his slave rebellionwhich began on august 21. Apthekers book includes turner s confessions, recorded before his execution in 1831. Nathanial nat turner 18001831 was a black american slave who led the only effective, sustained slave rebellion august 1831 in u.
Confessions of nat turner is a profoundly disturbing docu ment purporting to. 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. 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. Nat turner rebellion took place in southampton county, virginia, in 1831. Author patrick breen discussed his book, the land shall be deluged in blood. In 1831 virginia, nat turner led a band of southampton county slaves in a rebellion that killed fiftyfive whites, mostly women and children. Nat turner s name rings through american history with a force all its own. Infected by the febrile religiosity, and expectation of the. Nat turner launches massive slave revolt in virginia history. Resulting in the deaths of over 50 whites, the rebellion was successful in its attempts to spread fear to white slave owners in the. Nat turner october 2, 1800 november 11, 1831 was an enslaved. The literary battle for nat turners legacy vanity fair.
Nat turner a slave rebellion essay 1240 words bartleby. One issue that appears throughout history and does not discriminate to any race, religion or creed is slavery. In august of 1831, a slave named nat turner incited an uprising that spread. 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. 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. Nathanial nat turner 1800 1831 was a black american slave who led the only effective, sustained slave rebellion august 1831 in u. Nat turner saw vision and attacked whites in southampton county, va. 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. One of the most significant slave rebellions happened in 1831, and was called nat turners rebellion. Nat turner rebellion on august 21 1831 turner led 50 african american men on a murdering rampage through virginia. Push away from the table at two oclock for a long walk with his dogs, while he. The historians here explore turners slave community, discussing the support for his uprising as well as the religious and literary context of his movement. Automatically push a clip link to your favorite service.
During a twoday rampage, more than 50 whites were killed, mostly by being stabbed or hacked to death. 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. To some he is a hero, a symbol of black resistance and a precursor to the civil rights movement. Nat turner slave rebellion 1831 insurrection in southampton, virginia duration. Rebel slaves killed from 55 to 65 people, at least 51 being white. 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. This essay takes up two tasks in addressing the confessions of. In his 1967 novel, the confessions of nat turner, william styron, a white. Nat turner was born october 2nd, 1800 in southampton county, virginia. 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. In the summer of 1831, a band of some forty slaves led by nat turner. The brutal aftermath sends shock waves throughout the south.
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