Resisting Slavery (Essay) Resistance first starts the second a person is captured. Since the beginnings of the institution of slavery the enslaved have always tried to escape to regain their freedom. Even after generations of being enslaved African Americans have always had the desire to be free. There were many different ways that enslaved African Americans used to try to achieve freedom. Throughout the ninetieth century there were many key acts of resistance that resonated throughout the United States and shook the infrastructure of slavery. The role of resistance to slavery was very important to the enslaved African Americans of the nineteenth century. The idea of resistance brought hope to enslaved people. When hearing of a slave planning
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This way was one of the most dangerous kinds of resistance, but it was dangerous for both the enslaved African Americans and the white slave masters and overseers. A revolt would come about after a few meeting between slaves about how to conduct the revolt. It would then follow with at what times to start the revolt and then how to start the revolt. For the most part the weapons the enslaved African Americans would use are the tools they use for everyday work. Tools such as axes, sugar cane knives, shovels, etc. Unfortunately, the results of all United States slave rebellions ended in defeat for the enslaved African Americans and harsher laws being enforced for both enslaved and free African Americans. (John Franklin, From Slavery to Freedom, Pg. 155). Even though the odds were stacked against the revolting slaves there were still many revolts and conspiracies to revolt in nineteenth century United States. Some key slave revolts and conspiracies were Gabriel Prosser’s conspiracy, Denmark Vesey’s conspiracy, and Nat Turner’s rebellion. Gabriel Prosser’s conspiracy occurred in 1800. Gabriel Prosser was an enslaved blacksmith from Virginia. He had planned a revolt in the spring of 1800 but it was delayed due to rain. Due to this delay this gave time for slave masters to grow suspicious and Gabriel Prosser was sold out by two slaves and the revolt was crushed before it could even start. The outcome of this slave revolt conspiracy was failure. Thirty-five African Americans were executed, four escaped and one committed suicide. Gabriel Prosser was one of the thirty-five executed. (Dr. Geesling, Class Notes, November 28th). The second key slave revolt conspiracy was Denmark Vesey’s conspiracy. Denmark Vesey was born a slave but purchased his freedom in 1800. He then became a carpenter. Over several years he plotted a slave revolt due to his dissatisfaction of living comfortably while other African Americans were still enslaved. Vesey
This way was one of the most dangerous kinds of resistance, but it was dangerous for both the enslaved African Americans and the white slave masters and overseers. A revolt would come about after a few meeting between slaves about how to conduct the revolt. It would then follow with at what times to start the revolt and then how to start the revolt. For the most part the weapons the enslaved African Americans would use are the tools they use for everyday work. Tools such as axes, sugar cane knives, shovels, etc. Unfortunately, the results of all United States slave rebellions ended in defeat for the enslaved African Americans and harsher laws being enforced for both enslaved and free African Americans. (John Franklin, From Slavery to Freedom, Pg. 155). Even though the odds were stacked against the revolting slaves there were still many revolts and conspiracies to revolt in nineteenth century United States. Some key slave revolts and conspiracies were Gabriel Prosser’s conspiracy, Denmark Vesey’s conspiracy, and Nat Turner’s rebellion. Gabriel Prosser’s conspiracy occurred in 1800. Gabriel Prosser was an enslaved blacksmith from Virginia. He had planned a revolt in the spring of 1800 but it was delayed due to rain. Due to this delay this gave time for slave masters to grow suspicious and Gabriel Prosser was sold out by two slaves and the revolt was crushed before it could even start. The outcome of this slave revolt conspiracy was failure. Thirty-five African Americans were executed, four escaped and one committed suicide. Gabriel Prosser was one of the thirty-five executed. (Dr. Geesling, Class Notes, November 28th). The second key slave revolt conspiracy was Denmark Vesey’s conspiracy. Denmark Vesey was born a slave but purchased his freedom in 1800. He then became a carpenter. Over several years he plotted a slave revolt due to his dissatisfaction of living comfortably while other African Americans were still enslaved. Vesey