Nat Turner Rebels: Slave Uprising Shakes Virginia
Nat Turner, a literate enslaved preacher who believed he received divine visions, led between 50 and 75 enslaved and free Black people on a two-day rampage through Southampton County, Virginia, beginning on August 21, 1831. They killed 55 to 65 white men, women, and children before militia forces crushed the revolt. Turner evaded capture for two months before being found hiding in a hole under a fence. He was tried, convicted, and hanged. White mobs retaliated by killing an estimated 120 to 200 Black people, many of whom had no connection to the revolt. Southern states responded with draconian laws prohibiting the education of enslaved people, restricting their movement, and banning Black religious gatherings without white supervision.
August 21, 1831
195 years ago
Key Figures & Places
Nat Turner
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a rebellion
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Southampton County, Virginia
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Nat Turner
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Nat Turner's Rebellion
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Southampton County, Virginia
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Virginia
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Slavery
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Southern United States
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History of the United States
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Militia
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