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A visual of Turner being discovered after two months of hiding in Southampton county.

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A depiction of the rebellion.

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Overview of Nat Turners life and rebellion

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Overview of Nat Turners life and rebellion

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It isn't hard to believe that several rebellions have occurred during the enslavement of African Americans. Although most slaves were portrayed to be content to living under oppression, a few acts of bravery have emerged from the slave population. The story of Nat Turner and his courageous plan to rebel against his masters play a vital role in the transition to a slavery-free America. Turner was viewed as a prophet figure from his fellow slaves, and was even deemed "chosen from god". Turner believed to have visions directly from god to "fight the battle against evil", which obviously influenced his decision to formulate the famous attack. The rebellion ended up being one of the biggest in American history, resulting with the death of 55-65 people (highest number of causalities from slave uprisings).

Nat Turner was born in Southampton County, Virginia on October 2, 1800. Turners life as a slave was no different from others, working long hours with little to no freedom. In such limiting circumstances, the bright Turner still learned how to read and write at a young age. Turner enjoyed reading the bible, and grew to be very religious. He was often found praying and fasting, while keeping to himself.

Turner began having visions in his early 20's. On 1821, Turner ran away from his plantation, but returned three months later due to a vision. The vision indicated Turner to "return back to his earthly masters". Three years later, Turner had a more specific vision. He claimed to see lights in the sky and was struck with confusion. Turner shortly had another spiritual experience while working on the plantation. "... while laboring in the field, I discovered drops of blood on the corn, as though it were dew from heaven, and I communicated it to many, both white and black, in the neighborhood; and then I found on the leaves in the woods hieroglyphic characters and numbers, with the forms of men in different attitudes, portrayed in blood, and representing the figures I had seen before in the heavens." Turner took this as a definite sign to become a spiritual leader and conduct services in Barnes church near the Virginia/North Carolina border.

By 1931, Turner had been sure that his rise against evil was near. On February 1831, there was an eclipse of the sun. Turner took this as a sign that his plan to rebel against white oppressors was near.  Turner began to prepare the attack with his four trusted friends:  Hark Travis, Henry Porter, Sam Francis and Nelson Williams. The attack was initially set on 4th of July, but had to be postponed due to Turner feeling ill. On August 13, 1831, another solar eclipse had emerged in virginia. The sky was also described as blueish green. Turner and his comrades took this as the final sign to start the rebellion. A week later on August 22, 1831, Turner and six slaves began the rebellion. Turner and the rebels took out the owner of their plantation along with his family, and proceeded to exterminate all white people connected to slavery in Southampton. Throughout the next 24 hours, the group raided 11 plantations and terminated 55-65 people, and inspired many slaves to join Turners rebellion.

Virginia's governor had sent out a militia of 3,000 men to cease the rebellion. On Turners and the rebels way to Jerusalem, Virginia, they had been approached by the militia. Due to being heavily outnumbered, the rebellion fled and left their motive to raid Jerusalem. All the participants of the rebellion were captured and killed. As for Turner, he hid in a wilderness in Southampton county for two months. Eventually Turner was found and jailed immediately. He was hanged shortly after.

The aftermath of the rebellion led to more violence. Whites were outraged and began attacking the African American population of Virginia. Nearly 300 innocent African Americans were killed by white mobs. The aftermath of the rebellion resulted in stricter slave laws in Virginia.

No matter what your view point of this event is, it is an important piece of American history that should be studied thoroughly. No murder of innocent people should be justified, and this rebellion teaches us that violence is not the solution to a dilemma. In 2016 we can look back at this incident and realize how far we have came as a society. Although Nat Turners way of striking at his oppressors seemed a bit radical, he sparked future abolitionists to be brave and to fight for what they believe in.

"Nat Turner's Rebellion" PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2016.
"9.1 Nat Turner's Rebellion." Nat Turner's Rebellion - North Carolina Digital History. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2016.
"Nat Turner." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2016.
"Death or Liberty." Death or Liberty. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2016.

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Excerpt from "Confessions of Nat Turner".  This writing gives us an understanding of what Turner was going through during the instances of his visions.

On the 12th of May, 1828, I heard a loud noise in the heavens, and the Spirit instantly appeared to me and said the Serpent was loosened, and Christ had laid down the yoke he had borne for the sins of Men, and that I should take it on and fight against the Serpent, for the time was fast approaching when the first should be last and the last should be first.

Question: Do you not find yourself mistaken now?
Answer: Was not Christ crucified?

Since 1830, I had been living with Mr. Joseph Travis, who was a kind master who had placed great trust in me. On Saturday evening, August 20th [1831] we decided to meet the next day for a meal and to work out our plan of attack....It was quickly agreed we should start at home (Mr. J. Travis') on that night.

I took my station in the rear, and, as it was my object to carry terror and destruction wherever we went, I placed fifteen or twenty of the best armed and most to be relied on in front, who generally approached the houses as fast as their horses could run. This was for two purposes--to prevent their escape and strike terror to the inhabitants.