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Nat Turner was an African-American enslaved person who led one of the most significant slave rebellions in American history. Born into slavery in Southhampton County, Virginia, in 1800, Turner became a charismatic and religious leader, driven by a fervent belief that he was chosen by God to lead his fellow slaves to freedom. His rebellion, which took place in August 1831, resulted in the deaths of nearly sixty white men, women, and children, and prompted a wave of panic and retribution across the South. Although the rebellion was eventually crushed, Nat Turner’s actions and their aftermath played a pivotal role in shaping the discourse on slavery, spirituality, and resistance in America. This essay will delve into Turner’s background, his motivations, and the consequences of his rebellion, exploring the enduring legacy of Nat Turner in American history.
(1800-1831)
Who Was Nat Turner?
Nat Turner was an enslaved person who became a preacher and made history as the leader of one of the bloodiest enslaved revolts in America on August 21, 1831. Following the insurrection, Turner hid for six weeks, but he was eventually caught and later hanged. The incident ended the emancipation movement in that region and led to even harsher laws against the enslaved. While Turner became an icon of the 1960s Black power movement, others have criticized him for using violence as a means of demanding change.
Early Life
Turner was born on October 2, 1800, in Southampton County, Virginia, on the plantation of Benjamin Turner. His mother was named Nancy, but nothing is known about his father. Turner’s owner, Benjamin, allowed him to be instructed in reading, writing and religion.
As a small child, Turner was thought to have some special talent because he could describe things that happened before he was even born. Some even remarked that he “surely would be a prophet,” according to his later confession. His mother and grandmother told Turner that he “was intended for some great purpose.” Turner was deeply religious and spent much of his time reading the Bible, praying and fasting.
Over the years, Turner worked on a number of different plantations. He ran away from Samuel Turner, his former owner’s brother, in 1821. After 30 days of hiding in the woods, Turner came back to Samuel’s plantation after he received what he believed to be a sign from God. After Samuel’s death, Turner became the enslaved person of Thomas Moore and then the property of his widow. When she married John Travis, Turner went to work on Travis’ lands.
Rebellion
On August 21, 1831, Turner and his supporters began a revolt against white owners with the killing of his owners, the Travis family.
Turner believed in signs and heard divine voices, and he had a vision in 1825 of a bloody conflict between Black and white spirits. Three years later, he had what he believed to be another message from God. In his later confession, Turner explained: “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.” Turner would receive another sign to tell him when to fight, but this latest message meant “I should arise and prepare myself and slay my enemies with their own weapons.”
Turner took a solar eclipse that occurred in February 1831 as a signal that the time to rise up had come. He recruited several other enslaved people to join him in his cause. Turner gathered more supporters — growing to a group of up to 40 or 50 enslaved people — as he and his men continued their violent spree through the county. They were able to secure arms and horses from those they killed. Most sources say that about 55 white men, women and children died during Turner’s rebellion.
Initially, Turner had planned to reach the county seat of Jerusalem and take over the armory there, but he and his men were foiled in this plan. They faced off against a group of armed white men at a plantation near Jerusalem, and the conflict soon dissolved into chaos. Turner himself fled into the woods.
While Turner hid, white mobs took their revenge on the Black people of Southampton County. Estimates range from approximately 100 to 200 African Americans who were slaughtered after the rebellion.
Death
Turner was eventually captured on October 30, 1831. He was represented by lawyer Thomas R. Gray, who wrote down Turner’s confession. Turner pled not guilty during his trial, believing that his rebellion was the work of God. He was sentenced to death by hanging, and this sentence was carried out on November 11, 1831. Many of his co-conspirators met the same fate.
The incident put fear in the heart of Southerners, ending the organized emancipation movement in that region. Southern states enacted even harsher laws against the enslaved instead. Turner’s actions also added fuel to the abolitionist movement in the North. Noted abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison even published an editorial in his newspaper The Liberator in support of Turner to some degree.
Legacy
Over the years, Turner has emerged as a hero, a religious fanatic and a villain. Turner became an important icon to the 1960s Black power movement as an example of an African American standing up against white oppression.
Others have objected to Turner’s indiscriminate slaughtering of men, women and children to try to achieve this end. As historian Scot French told The New York Times, “To accept Nat Turner and place him within the pantheon of American revolutionary heroes is to sanction violence as a means of social change. He has a kind of radical consciousness that to this day troubles advocates of a racially reconciled society. The story lives because it’s relevant today to questions of how to organize for change.”
Movie and Book
Turner was the subject of William Styron’s 1967 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Confessions of Nat Turner.
Turner’s life and uprising was also the subject of the 2016 film, The Birth of a Nation, which was directed, written by and starring Nate Parker. The film won the Audience Award and Grand Jury Prize at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.
QUICK FACTS
- Name: Nat Turner
- Birth Year: 1800
- Birth date: October 2, 1800
- Birth State: Virginia
- Birth City: Southampton County
- Birth Country: United States
- Gender: Male
- Best Known For: Nat Turner was the leader of a violent enslaved people rebellion in Southampton County, Virginia, in 1831.
- Astrological Sign: Libra
- Death Year: 1831
- Death date: November 11, 1831
- Death State: Virginia
- Death City: Jerusalem
- Death Country: United States
Fact Check
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CITATION INFORMATION
- Article Title: Nat Turner Biography
- Author: Biography.com Editors
- Website Name: The Biography.com website
- Url: https://www.biography.com/activists/nat-turner
- Access Date:
- Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
- Last Updated: January 14, 2021
- Original Published Date: April 2, 2014
QUOTES
- 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.
In conclusion, Nat Turner’s life and the 1831 rebellion he led had a significant impact on the history of slavery and the fight for freedom for African Americans. Turner’s rebellion exposed the brutal reality of slavery and the deep-seated resistance that existed among enslaved individuals. While the rebellion was violently repressed, it served as a catalyst for the abolitionist movement and sparked conversations about the inhumane nature of slavery. Turner’s legacy also highlights the power of individual action and the potential for marginalized communities to challenge and defy oppressive systems. Despite the violent outcome of the rebellion, Nat Turner’s bravery and determination have cemented his place in history as a symbol of resistance and an inspiration for generations to come.
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