In Southampton, VA, in 183, a violent rebellion led by Nat Turner caused the deaths of many white men, women, and children. While I believe Nat Turner thought he was fighting for the freedom of slaves, it was portrayed the wrong way because he was a religiously misguided fanatic. The rebellion caused more problems for the slaves rather than solve anything. For example, the rebellion made whites feel as though they had an excuse to torture, or execute innocent slaves. The fact that Nat Turner stated in his confessions that God spoke to him telling him to rebel proves my claim that he was religiously misguided. I believe that the Nat Turner was a misguided religious fanatic because of the fact that there were many other slaves with even less
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While Nat Turner managed to hide from authorities for 6 weeks before surrendering, the others weren’t as lucky. According to a newspaper article from the Constitutional Whig, “We allude to the slaughter of many blacks, without trial, and under circumstances of great barbarity. How many have thus been put into death… some five and twenty and from that to 40…” Every single rebel who was caught was murdered without the chance of even a fair trial. However, that wasn’t the only way the rebellion affected slaves. Not only were rebels killed, but innocent people too. “The Aftermath of Nat Turner’s Insurrection”, by John W. Cromwell says, “In a little more than one day 120 Negroes were killed… Negroes were tortured to death, burner, maimed and subjected to nameless atrocities. Slaves who were distrusted were pointed out if they endeavored to escape, they were ruthlessly shot down…” Another document, “Narrative of the Life of Henry Box Brown”, adds even more haunting details to the ordeal slaves met after the rebellion, saying “Many slaves were whipped, hung, and cut down with the swords in the streets… and then they were pelted by men and boys with rotten eggs.” Innocent slaves were treated as if they were worthless. They were harmed for no good reason, other than the fact that whites felt “threatened” just by their existence. Out of those who were harmed, many were preachers. Whites had figured that since Nat Turner was misguided and violent, all black preachers were. It goes to show that Nat Turner truly had a problem with his religion, no other preacher killed
While Nat Turner managed to hide from authorities for 6 weeks before surrendering, the others weren’t as lucky. According to a newspaper article from the Constitutional Whig, “We allude to the slaughter of many blacks, without trial, and under circumstances of great barbarity. How many have thus been put into death… some five and twenty and from that to 40…” Every single rebel who was caught was murdered without the chance of even a fair trial. However, that wasn’t the only way the rebellion affected slaves. Not only were rebels killed, but innocent people too. “The Aftermath of Nat Turner’s Insurrection”, by John W. Cromwell says, “In a little more than one day 120 Negroes were killed… Negroes were tortured to death, burner, maimed and subjected to nameless atrocities. Slaves who were distrusted were pointed out if they endeavored to escape, they were ruthlessly shot down…” Another document, “Narrative of the Life of Henry Box Brown”, adds even more haunting details to the ordeal slaves met after the rebellion, saying “Many slaves were whipped, hung, and cut down with the swords in the streets… and then they were pelted by men and boys with rotten eggs.” Innocent slaves were treated as if they were worthless. They were harmed for no good reason, other than the fact that whites felt “threatened” just by their existence. Out of those who were harmed, many were preachers. Whites had figured that since Nat Turner was misguided and violent, all black preachers were. It goes to show that Nat Turner truly had a problem with his religion, no other preacher killed