Analytical Essay: Gabriel's Conspiracy

Gabriel's Conspiracy Gabriel’s Conspiracy, named after an enslaved blacksmith, Gabriel Prosser, took place in the spring and summer of 1800. This revolt included a group of enslaved African American men, free black men, and a few white workers. The plan was to attack Richmond, Virginia, in hopes with destroying slavery in Virginia. Born into slavery in the year 1776, Gabriel Prosser, later became the leader (the most important leader) of an unsuccessful slave revolt (Gabriel’s Conspriracy). At age ten, he and his brother (Solomon) began training to be blacksmiths. He was owned by Thomas H. Prosser of Henrico County, Virginia, who owned a tobacco plantation. Luckily, when he was a child he was taught to read and write. Compared to other slaves, …show more content…
When the conspirators realized that their plan had been discovered, Prosser and many of his men dispersed into the countryside. Around thirty-five leaders were captured and executed. Prosser was able to escape to Norfolk. September fourteenth, Gabriel swam to a ship with the name of Mary. The captain, Richardson Taylor, a former slave overseer, had obviously changed his view on slavery and tried to bring Gabriel to freedom. Two slaves (one a former slave), Isham and Billy, realized that Gabriel was the leader of Gabriel’s Conspiracy revolt and when the ship docked they alerted some white authorities, so they could claim the three hundred dollar reward. Gabriel and Taylor were arrested and Billy was rewarded with only fifty dollars. He was captured and brought back to Richmond, Virginia, and on October sixth, he was was put on trial. Refusing to make a statement, he was sentenced to be executed the next day, but he asked that it would be delayed till October tenth, because he wanted to be executed on the same day as six other slavers were. The court had agreed, but on October tenth the slaves were all executed in three different locations, Gabriel