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] Virginia legislators also targeted free blacks with a colonization bill, which allocated new funding to remove them, and a police bill that denied free blacks trials by jury and made any free blacks
Black, Colored, Negroes, Niggers… All names that had been given to describe “darker” skinned toned individuals whom only wanted the pleasure of being free in a land full of opportunity. Imagine being taken from what you know as home to be turned into someone’s property and considered no more as free; to be considered no more as human but as chattel. The question is, who? Who in the hell would want to be a slave? “The Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turners Fierce Rebellion” by Stephen Oates happened to be one the most vivid books in which provided its audience with details that placed the reader in the shoes of the characters whom suffered for years because of a law that imprisoned human beings because of the complexion of their skin, filling their heads
One of the events in the history of the anti-slavery fight in the United States that caused the highest number of fatalities was The Nat Turner Rebellion. It was a highly important event that has changed the course of American history and the slavery abolishment. The United States became an entirely other place than it would have been without the rebellion. Thus, there is no wonder that even literature covers this period and these events. The book The Fires of Jubilee written by Stephen B. Oates depicts the atmosphere of trouble and chaos resulting from Nat Turner's rebellion and tells a story of a man who was born as a slave to gain freedom.
In The Fires of Jubilee, Stephen Oates describes the events that led to Nat Turner’s rebellion. His goal had been to create a narrative that was realistic and true to the real history behind these events. Upon reading this book, I believe that Oates achieved his goal. He was able to portray the struggles of many slaves during that time, and the fight for the freedom they so much desired.
The book, The Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner’s Fierce Rebellion, by Stephen B. Oates’ account of the slave rebellion in Virginia’s Southampton county in 1831. Oates’ book is a historical narrative of the exploits of Nat Turner, a gifted black slave who rallied servants into a bloody revolt against their masters. Oates clearly analyzes the events that led to the revolt in the eyes of Nat turner. He records the life and struggles of Nat Turner and other slaves and their great determination to become free. His books attempts to show how the serfs’ rebellion in Virginia increased tensions among natives and slaves contributing to the civil war three decades later.
Nat Turners Rebellion became monumental for many people of color, he was idolized and respected for his courageous actions. The rebellion created fear that spread through the South, even those in favor for abolishment now wanted stricter laws for slaves. Turner was “recorded on the list of dishonor” for the organization he had lead (“An Address To The Slave Of The united Slaves”). There had been an interview by Thomas R. Gray, defending and slightly sympathizing with Turners actions, many rejected the validation of the interview and felt as if he just wanted “to trick, confuse, and overwhelm the slave’s minds.” (“The Southampton Tragedy”).
Nathaniel “Nat” Turner was born a slave on October 2, 1800 on a plantation. Nat became a preacher who said that he had been chosen by God to lead the slaves away from Bondage. On August 21, 1831 he had lead a violent insurrection. Nat hid for several weeks but was finally found and hung. The incident ended the Emancipation movement in that region and had lead to much harder laws against slaves.
Nat Turner’s early years helped him become a rebellious person. Nat Turner was born in 1800, he was born on a small plantation in Jerusalem, Virginia (History.com). His mother gave him a hatred for slavery, he spread terror among southern whites. He was taught to read by the owner’s son (Willson). He was born on a small remote plantation, he was given a hatred for slavery.
In the fall of 1739, around twenty enslaved Africans gathered near the Stono River in South Carolina and sought out to rebel against slave owners in what would be one of the most important slave revolts in Colonial America. These Africans were said to be from the Kongo, who may have also been former soldiers. They planned to march and escape to Spanish Florida where the Spanish had issued a proclamation stating that any slave who deserted to St. Augustine would be given freedom and land. The enslaved Kongolese Africans were allegedly led by another slave named “Jemmy” (also referred to as Cato) who gathered a recruitment of more slaves as they headed south. On Sunday, September 9, 1739, they broke into the Hutchinson’s shop and killed the
The Underground Railroad was used by an estimated one-hundred thousand fugitive slaves to help them gain their freedom from slavery (“Underground Railroad”). The Underground Railroad was a secretive organization that helped runaway slaves gain freedom in the north, thanks to many brave people, or conductors, who led trips north for thousands of slaves, and the many different ways people knew about the organization without most people ever finding out. The Underground Railroad is an organization made by freed slaves and white sympathizers who helped many slaves travel North and find freedom (“Underground Railroad”). The Underground Railroad was mostly operated at night and it provided food, directions, and shelter for slaves making their way
Rebellions Rebellion: an open, organized, and armed resistance to one’s government or ruler. And I’m not talking about just “rebelling” against your parents by staying out past curfew. Some rebellion involves a degree of defiance that requires violence and law breaking. But others are more silent such as the creation of newspapers. There were plenty of rebellions that shaped history from acts of disobedience, boycotts, newspapers, social movements, and violent uprisings.
The act of Norfolk Mayor of being irrational roused Governor Floyd’s upheaval. Amid the insurgence of Nat Turners, the frenzy of the Norfolk Mayor was put by bits of gossip and suppositions that the present uprising was an extensive, effective occasion. Slaves in Virginia, far outnumbered the white populace and an across the board rebellion could demonstrate terrible to the whites. The Governors resentment was halfway vanity and in addition pride.
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.
Nat Turner and John Brown are both noted, as being symbols of American reform. Leaders of abolitionist groups, who went on a killing spree believing they were given “extraordinary powers from above” and were executed for their strong beliefs of anti-slavery. Their gruesome murders could easily attract followers and spark interest in others to write their biographies. John Brown and Nat turner both came from strong religious backgrounds.
Rebellion can occur for many reasons. Some call for social reform, while others want change economically or politically. However, the root of any rebellion is change. This was no different in the slave uprising of Virginia in 1831, led by Nat Turner. Turner was born in 1800, during the peak of slavery in Southampton, Virginia.
Throughout the years, slaves have encountered seasons of agony as slave owners exhibit inhumane behavior resulting in the manslaughter of numerous slaves. On a treacherous flight towards freedom, slaves like Nat Turner and Harriet Tubman have retreated from brutality, in order to take a stand against