For generations, nat turner, the prophet of southampton county, virginia, has challenged historians to weave a coherent story from thin strands of sparse source material. Th e confessions of nat turner, the leader of the late insurrection in southampton, virginia, as fully and voluntarily made to th omas r. Samuel warner on nat turners insurrection 1831 this excerpt was taken from a book by samuel warner that was ed just one month after nat turners rebellion in virginia. Nat turner was born october 2, 1800 on a plantation in southampton county, virginia. Aug 22, 2016 i t was in august of 1831 that nat turner led a rebellion of virginia slaves that left dozens of people dead, including small children. Nat turner s rebellionnat turner s rebellion was the most significant slave revolt in united states 1 history. Greenberg gathers twelve distinguished scholars to offer provocative new insight into the man, his rebellion, and his time, and his place in history. Why nat turner and the southampton rebels killed children. Nat turners rebellion put an end to the white southern myth that slaves were either contented with their lot or too servile to mount an armed revolt. Under the leadership of nat turner 2, a thirtyoneyearold religious mystic, a group of enslaved people in southampton county, virginia, conspired to strike a blow to the system. Nat turners rebellion in incidents in the life of a slave girl on september 23, 2015 by mcastello the confessions of nat turner provides a close look at nat turner s rebellion, at least from the perspective of nat himself, and his likely prejudiced transcriber.
Fictional works, such as william styrons pulitzer prizewinning 1967 novel, the confessions of nat turner, reimagined turner. The confessions of nat turner, the leader of the late insurrection in southampton, va. I t was in august of 1831 that nat turner led a rebellion of virginia slaves that left dozens of people dead, including small children. Historians know very little about turners life before the rebellion. Leader of the most important slave rebellion on these shores, variously viewed as a murderer of unarmed women and children, an inspired religious leader, a fanaticthis puzzling figure represents all the terrible complexities of american slavery. In the summer of 1831, a band of some forty slaves led. Oates, the author narrates the life of nat turner by speaking on his early childhood life and how his views of the world led to his rebellion to make an attempt to become a free man. What was it about the man that made people follow him into insurrection. Nat turner s rebellion was one of the bloodiest and most effective in american history. One of the important events during his presidency was nat turner s rebellion in 1831. The confessions of nat turner, the leader of the late insurrection in southampton, virginia, as fully and voluntarily made to thomas r. In the book, nat turners fierce rebellion, by stephen b.
You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper. After killing the family of turners owner, the band ravaged the neighborhood, in two days killing a total of 55 white people, mostly women and children. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Cries of controversythat styron is a racist or that he minimizes the genuineness of the nat turner rebellion depend wholly on how the reader approaches the text through the lens of its emphasis. Nat turners 1831 rebellion struck fear throughout the slaveholding south, which sought to quash his legacy.
Nat turners fierce rebellion chronicles the life and rebellion of nat turner, the famous american slave rebel. Finding the bones of nat turner, american rebel national. Nat turners rebellion in incidents in the life of a. Subscribe to hiphughes history is you love history. South carolina 1822, and nat turner s uprising in jerusalem, virginia 1831, are the best known. Topics include writing from a white perspective, no exploration of the historical nat turner and what led him to rebel, and with whom he met and what he said in the brief interval between capture and execution. Leader of the most important slave rebellion on these shores, variously viewed as a murderer of unarmed women and children, an inspired religious leader, a fanaticthis puzzling figure represents all the terrible complexities of. The literary battle for nat turners legacy vanity fair.
This video is about the slave rebellion that took place in southampton county, virginia. A slave rebellion in history and memory, kenneth s. In southampton county black people came to measure time from nats fray, or old nats war. In his 1967 novel, the confessions of nat turner, william styron, a white southerner, told the story of americas bloodiest slave revoltin the. Oates is a writer more adept at historical biographical writing than most. James sidbury, author of becoming african in america. Nat turners rebellion was a slave rebellion that took place in southampton county, virginia.
Oct 07, 2016 understanding the gospel of nat turner. Jan 22, 2018 nat turners rebellion was an intensely violent episode which broke out in august 1831 when slaves in southeastern virginia rose up against white residents of the area. Quarstein weaves nat turner s own confession, court records, newspaper accounts, official papers, and his decadelong work with the southampton county historical society into a fresh portrayal of the causes and aftermath of the uprising. He manages to unearth many new facts about nat turner that were previously unknown. During a twoday rampage, more than 50 whites were killed, mostly by being stabbed or hacked to dea.
Nat turner used his spotless reputation among whites and religious influence over black slaves to cleverly plan a slave rebellion in 1831. The story of nat turner, an african slave, whose rebellion in. Presented as a firstperson narrative by historical figure nat turner, the novel concerns the slave revolt in virginia in 1831. From the moment of the rebellion he led in 1831 that killed almost 60 whites, terrorized southampton county, va, and shook slaveholders everywhere, to the many evocations of him and his bloody course. On the evening of august 2122, 1831, an enslaved preacher and selfstyled prophet named nat turner launched the most deadly slave revolt in the history of the united states. October marks the anniversary both of his birth and of his arrest as the leader of one of the united states most famous slave rebellions. Southern slave uprisings were so few and so small because of the absolute certainty that they would be brutally repressed. His account placed the story in historical context just as the civil war was beginning. The legacy of nat turner continues to be rewritten.
Christopher tomlins provides a luminous account of turners. The book the fires of jubilee gives a clear idea about nat turner s rebellion and how he was known as the leader of one of the bloodiest slave revolts in america. In august of 1831, nat turner led the only successful slave rebellion in the united states history, which struck fear in the hearts and guts of the white southerners. Nat turners rebellion was one of the largest slave rebellions ever to take place in the. The confession of nat turner read by brock peters 1968.
The book was the result of grays research while turner was in hiding and his conversations with turner before the trial, and it is the primary. Nat turner s 1831 rebellion struck fear throughout the slaveholding south, which sought to quash his legacy. Nat turner s name rings through american history with a force all its own. Apthekers book includes turner s confessions, recorded before his execution in 1831. The turner rebellion is usually given as the reason for the marked increase in. Nat turners fierce rebellion by stephen oates was written and submitted by user amanda mcgee to help you with your own studies. I think that this is a very controversial rebellion because it raises the question is it right to fight back. Onehundred and eightyfive years ago this week, in the. Nat turner was the leader of a violent slave rebellion in southampton county, virginia, in 1831. This illustration depicting the capture of nat turner appeared in the 1882 book a popular history of the united states. In this lesson, well check out the nat turner rebellion, and see what impact this movement had on. The story of nat turner is an inspiring story because he viewed and thought differently about african. Turner, on the other hand, learned how to read as a child, and his bible was the book that he knew intimately. Nov 07, 2019 nat turner was the leader of a violent slave rebellion in southampton county, virginia, in 1831.
The first fulllength study of the bloodiest slave uprising in u. Cries of controversythat styron is a racist or that he minimizes the genuineness of the nat turner rebelliondepend wholly on how the reader approaches the text through the lens of its emphasis. Oct 10, 2016 learn about the largest slave revolt in us history. Sep 23, 2015 the confessions of nat turner provides a close look at nat turners rebellion, at least from the perspective of nat himself, and his likely prejudiced transcriber. In speeches and writings, slave owners portrayed themselves not so much as ruthless businessmen exploiting a people for their labor but as kind and wellintentioned masters tutoring blacks in civilization and religion. Nat turner s rebellion on august 21, 1831, turner and his supporters began a revolt against white slave owners with the killing of his owners, the travis family. Aptheker reveals that nat turner was a highly intelligent man of profound religious sentiment who. The inspiration for the acclaimed 2016 movie birth of a nation. I think nat turner s rebellion is a bigger deal than people realize nowadays.
Nat turner was the leader of a slave rebellion that took place in 1831. Nathanial nat turner 18001831 was a black american slave who led the only effective, sustained slave rebellion august 1831 in u. The story of nat turner, an african slave, whose rebellion. Historians are making new discoveries about the enslaved preacher and his rebels in. Nat turners rebellion in incidents in the life of a slave. William styrons the confessions of nat turner is a lengthy book organized into four chapters, three of which take biblical allusions for titles. Oates clearly did extensive research on his subject. I have read the narrative of the life of frederick douglass which is a better slavery book in my opinion. I cannot say the book makes thrilling reading, nor will it hold the attention of many. Nov 10, 2018 the most scholarly book on turner is herbert apthekers nat turners slave rebellion, 1966. List of books and articles about nat turner online research library. The confessions of nat turner the leader of the late insurrections in southampton, va. Oates offers his historical work as a companion to as well as a rebuttal of some of the existing literature on turner, including the famous novel by william styron.
Gray, in the prison where he was confined, and acknowledged by him to be such when read before the court of. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Oates, tells the story of a man who caught a glimpse of freedom as a child and understood its value. A bold new interpretation of nat turner and the slave rebellion that stunned the. The rebellion was quickly suppressed, and turner went into hiding.
While still a young child, nat was overheard describing events that had happened before. Warner condemned the murder of innocent white families, but also considered how the profound injustice of slavery contributed to the murderous rage of. Jul 23, 2018 nat turners rebellion in 1831 frightened southerners because it challenged the idea that slavery was a benevolent institution. Turners rebellion, which occurred on august 31, 1831, was one of the largest slave rebellions in the southern united states. An authentic account of the whole insurrection nat turner slave rebellion. In 1861, the abolitionist author thomas wentworth higginson, wrote an account of nat turners rebellion for the atlantic monthly. Oates is a narrative of how a man called nat turner rose up to rebel against slavery in virginia in 1800s. Jan 15, 2017 nat turners 1831 rebellion struck fear throughout the slaveholding south, which sought to quash his legacy. There are two most important factors that led nat turner to launch the bloodiest slave revolt in americas history.
The sharpest and most insightful interpretation of nat turners rebellion in the scholarly literature. Buy the book dvd in 1831, nat turner led a slave rebellion in virginia that resulted in the murder of local slave owners and their familiesas. The bloody slave rebellion led by nat turner in virginia in 1831 and the savage reprisals that followed shattered beyond repair the myth of the contented slave and the benign master, and intensified the forces of change that would plunge america into the bloodbath of the civil war. In north america, no major concerted action by slaves had ended in the deaths of more than one or two white people since south carolinas stono rebellion in 1739. Nat turner was born in southampton country virginia on october 2, 1800. The history of nat turners rebellion is told in a biographical timeline sequence consisting of a series of short facts providing a simple method of relating the life of the slave, his owners, a history of the revolt with timeline dates, his capture, the imprisonment and the death of nat turner. In the matter of nat turner princeton university press. Tomlinss wonderful and important book makes a fundamental contribution to our understanding of one of the canonical events in american and african american history. The historians here explore turners slave community, discussing the support for his uprising as well as the religious and literary context of his movement.
The rebellion was put down within a few days, but turner survived in hiding for more than two months afterwards. Nat turner and the bloodiest slave rebellion in american. The images from nat turner s rebellion of armed black men roaming the country side slaying white men, women, and children haunted white southerners and. Nat turners trail is personal quest the virginianpilot.
Nat turner s rebellion for kids andrew jackson was the 7th american president who served in office from march 4, 1829 to march 4, 1837. Oates, 1975 authors purpose for writing the book the author wrote this book to transport readers back to nat s time so that the might suffer with him and see the world of slavery and the old south through his eyes ix. Nat turner s rebellion was one of the largest slave rebellions ever to take place in the united states, and it played an important role in the development of antebellum slave society. Nat turner s rebellion also known as the southampton insurrection was a slave rebellion that took place in southampton county, virginia, in august 1831, led by nat turner. This black american boy became a preacher who thought he was chosen by god to lead slaves from bondage, sustained slave rebellion in 1831 in us history. The story seems to start out really slow at first, but by the end everything comes full circle. Nat turner was born on october 2, 1800, in southampton county, virginia, the week before gabriel was hanged. It ignited a culture of fear in virginia that eventually spread to the rest of the south, and is said to have expedited the coming of the civil war. She brought home a little article that she downloaded from the internet, rick says. He was born to an african mother on a notsobig plantation in the southern country of southampton, in virginia. The history behind william styrons fictional nat turner. An enslaved africanamerican preacher, he led a small army of slaves to kill 55 white virginians beginning on august 21, 1831.
Aptheker ably establishes that nat turners rebellion belongs in that class of. The confessions of nat turner is a 1967 pulitzer prizewinning novel by american writer william styron. Yet hes encouraged that his 8yearold daughter has become interested in nat turner s rebellion. The civil war was far from the first time that someone in the usa tried to fight against slavery. Rebel slaves killed from 55 to 65 people, at least 51 being white. Nat turner s bible gave the enslaved rebel the resolve to rise up a bible belonging to the enslaved turner spoke of possibility says curator rex ellis of the national museum of.
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