History Paper The book, The Fires of Jubilee written by Stephen Oates talks about the issue of slavery throughout the 1800’s. This book discusses the brutal truths of the slaves’ lives, and the how slavery was viewed at the time. The book is mostly based on one slave in particular named Nathaniel Turner. Born on October 2, 1800, Nat Turner would have a future…This paper will discuss the behavior of Turner versus the typical slave, the Southern white’s views on slavery, why they had perceived slavery in such a way, factors that led to fear of rebellion, the claims that southern white’s suggested to be the causes of the revolt, how valid their claims were and the changes that were the result of the uprising. Turner was a peculiar person from …show more content…
They had this particular view because they had thought it was essential due to the circumstance that they were not at fault for being in this situation, but the Europeans slave traders were to blame for this way of life since they were the first to bring salves to America. They had also defended this point of view by declaring slavery an “economic necessity” (19). They had assumed that they needed to enslave the blacks to sustain their economy because they were maintaining their investments. They compared their population (majority of blacks) to the North’s population (majority of whites) and declared that the reason the North could free their blacks was because of their small percentage of blacks to whites, while the South relied on their large population of blacks to help their large investments of land and harvesting the money crops. White Southerners had claimed that they did not like slavery, and blamed it on the fact that they were in no position to change it. The factors that made the White Southerners fear a slave rebellion were rooted from the slave rebellion that took place in 1790s on the French island of Santo Domingo. The savagery and acts of violence that the whites had heard of had plagued them with the constant suspicions of a slave rebellion occurring in their own state. Once rumors about resistance and war had spread through the New World; after a disorderly act had transpired and killed two whites they had labeled this as a revolt and hung four slaves blaming it on the Santo Domingo
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.
When viewing the history of slavery in America, it becomes clear that violence toward slaves was truly a horrific kind of glue binding together the social construct of slave societies. The role of violence in a slave society can be more clearly understood by an examination of a several rebellions throughout history. Specifically, the rebellions of Gabriel Prosser, Nat Turner, and Denmark Vessey. A closer look at these rebellions gives insight into how violence controlled the dynamic of slave societies.
Fires of Jubilee The author, Stephen B. Oates described this book as a book that’s adventurous and never ending. The authors purpose of this book was to bring back the past and tell us what we didn’t know about the slave rebellion. Tell us what was actually happening behind the great battles that were lead by the Americans and the British, also the French. He wrote this book in many different ways, and ideas. Sometimes the story will jump into another subject that is relating to the other subjects.
There are different ways in which Nat Turner just like many slaves defined slavery as discussed below. In the Fires of Jubilee, by Stephen B. Oates, his rebellion to slave trade is believed to have impacted greatly to subsequent resistance to it. Nat Turner is described as a slave who was the leader of 1831 salve rebellion which failed in Southampton County, Virginia. Though it failed, it played an important part in how antebellum slave society developed. Turner had an experience as a slave following his work in Southern plantations.
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
If a southerner wants to get a slave all they have to is get a certificate from a southern judge saying that it is his or her slave. The northerners were outraged because slavery was outlawed in the north so they didn't want to be a part of it. Many of the northerners were abolitionists. An abolitionist is
Jasmine Eccles Ms.Clarke April 26, 2023 African American History Nate Parker's The Birth of a Nation tells the story of Nat Turner, a Virginia slave and Baptist preacher who led an uprising in 1831. Nat knew how to read and write and grew up reading the bible. This opened doors for him in the future allowing him to preach to other slaves to make Samuel his owner's money. While Nat was traveling to preach he realizes the severity of the bondage that holds him as he witnesses some horrific gruesome treatment towards other slaves. The inhumane treatment he sees sparks something in him and he decides that he can't Turner’s Uprising, claiming more than 50 before he is eventually caught and hung.
Since there was a large slave population in New York City, it caused paranoia amongst the whites, leading them to believe that all the black slaves were out to get them. In “The New-York Conspiracy, Or A History of the Negro Plot, with the Journal of the Proceedings Against the Conspirators at New-York in the Years 1741-2,” Daniel Horsmanden said, “Insurrections and conspiracies were, at this juncture, frequent in the West-India islands, and great apprehensions were entertained of an invasion by the French and Spaniards. These circumstances aggravated the horrors of a domestic plot to such a degree that the white inhabitants, regarding every Negro slave as an incendiary and an assassin, carried their apprehensions and resentments beyond all bounds.” Due to the large slave population, it was no surprise that the whites were uneasy at the idea of a slave rebellion. The whites suspected the capability of slaves committing arson, as they certainly did not trust them.
‘Slavery was the root cause of secession’. ‘November 6 1860, Lincoln was elected president of America which resulted in panic emerging in the South’ . The election of Lincoln as president who was a Republican leader meant that ideologies, movements and values from the North would be implemented in the South which meant the abolition of slavery. Slavery was a huge characteristic of the South as the economy; politics; social status and psychological mind-sets were influenced by the process of slavery. The southern white population then derived the idea of secession which meant the South would gain independence from Northern aggression .
The American Yawp is the main source of information that pertains to the events and action of Nat Turner’s revolt. The accounts of Turner’s actions were recorder by Joseph Locke and Ben Wright (Locke & Wright, 1983). This primary source reporting of Nat turners Rebellion was presented by way of the American Yawp, written in 1983,
No matter your stance at the time, one thing became clear: socially, politically and economically, slavery was the fabric of American success and gave birth to the Old South as we know it today. At the center of the entire institution of slavery, and central to its defense, was the economic domination it provided a young country in international markets. In the early 19th century, cotton was a popular commodity and overtook sugar as the main crop produced by slave labor. The production of cotton became the nation’s top priority; America supplied ¾ of the cotton supply to the entire world.
Stephen B. Oates writes about a slave named Nat Turner, who led a rebellion against slavery in the book “The Fires of Jubilee”. Turner was born on October 17, 1800 in Southampton County, Virginia. His mother Nancy was bought by a man named Benjamin Turner in 1795 and was transported to America. Nat’s father was never named, but was married to Nancy.
Douglass is a African American that was a slave and did a Narrative about his time being a slave and in his Narrative he “threw light” at the American slave system. African American slave Frederick Douglass lived through a time of racism and how slavery was a natural thing to do but was a very awful thing. And slavery is when families who had colored skin were separated and sold of to a person that can do anything to them, the slave is pretty much like the slaveholder’s property. And in this essay I will talk about how Douglass’s position differs from those who supported slavery and also I will be talking about How Douglass used his Narrative to share his position. How Douglass “throws light” on the American Slave system is by showing
From the day he was born, Turner’s family always thought he was special and placed here for a purpose (Smith,Sam). His slave owners treated him differently than the other slaves. He got special privileges. When he was young, his master’s wife took him to live in their house so he could learn to read and write. She felt like since he could sign out words, he had the ability to actually learn to read and write.
The Fires of Jubilee written by Stephen B. Oates is a book written about a young slave life from prepubescents to adulthood, or better yet a young smart boy to an older anarchy inducing man. The setting of the book takes place in Southampton County Virginia around the 1800’s. The main protagonist being a young slave called Nat Turner. The author very briefly gives details about Nat’s life as a newborn, mainly giving a brief summary of who his mother is. His mother was purchased to be a slave by a man named Benjamin Turner, a wealthy tide water planter.