“The Confessions of Nat Turner, the Leader of the Late Insurrection in Southampton, Va,” details the slave uprising that occurred in August 1831 that left more than 50 whites dead and more than 60 slaves put to trial. The pamphlet was the basis of the best-selling, Pulitzer-winning novel by William Styron. It is described as an “authentic account of the whole insurrection” by Thomas R. Gray who elicited the confession from Turner. Although Gray, a wealthy Southampton lawyer and slave owner during the 1830s, represented many enslaved people during the trials and wake of Turner’s slave rebellion, he was not empathetic to the plight. Gray sought to explore Turner’s reasoning and satisfy public curiosity surrounding the rebellion.
Over the span …show more content…
Because he felt so strongly moved by the spirit, he committed these acts Gray calls “atrocious.” His bluntness gives readers a detailed, unbiased account of the insurrection. These accounts were also backed by captured slaves who worked alongside Turner. I struggle with this source but it forces readers to come to terms with Turner’s actions. On one hand, I cannot say that I fully understand or even agree with Turner’s method. On the other hand, I cannot say that I disagree with Turner. It is easy to understand how an insurrection like this could have occurred. It is extremely clear that Turner was warranted to carry out his actions, and justifiable if looking for an eye for an eye. However, we cannot ignore the impact of his actions and his literal actions. This is not to say Turner was necessarily wrong. In 1831 America led by Andrew Jackson was in a tense racial point. Jackson, arguably the cruelest president the United States has ever seen, cultivated an extremely dark atmosphere that effected all Americans. Whites felt empowered by Jackson’s Nationalism and enslaved people felt more suppressed than ever, forcing them to rebel. Turner’s Confession is an important work to analyze and discuss, and should be used as primary sources in arguments. It shows readers a first person point of view from an individual who played a pivotal role in the 19th century and greatly influenced the shape of slavery in
Over the span …show more content…
Because he felt so strongly moved by the spirit, he committed these acts Gray calls “atrocious.” His bluntness gives readers a detailed, unbiased account of the insurrection. These accounts were also backed by captured slaves who worked alongside Turner. I struggle with this source but it forces readers to come to terms with Turner’s actions. On one hand, I cannot say that I fully understand or even agree with Turner’s method. On the other hand, I cannot say that I disagree with Turner. It is easy to understand how an insurrection like this could have occurred. It is extremely clear that Turner was warranted to carry out his actions, and justifiable if looking for an eye for an eye. However, we cannot ignore the impact of his actions and his literal actions. This is not to say Turner was necessarily wrong. In 1831 America led by Andrew Jackson was in a tense racial point. Jackson, arguably the cruelest president the United States has ever seen, cultivated an extremely dark atmosphere that effected all Americans. Whites felt empowered by Jackson’s Nationalism and enslaved people felt more suppressed than ever, forcing them to rebel. Turner’s Confession is an important work to analyze and discuss, and should be used as primary sources in arguments. It shows readers a first person point of view from an individual who played a pivotal role in the 19th century and greatly influenced the shape of slavery in