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Virginia Slave Rebellions

These three Virginia slave rebellions had major impacts and consequences on the future of America's history. The discrimination and coercive labor forced on African Americans caused great hatred and anger among slaves. Gabriel Prosser, an African American blacksmith, revolted against his perpetrators in the city of Richmond, Virginia. Nat Turner, an African American slave, lead a group of slaves on a rebellion through Southampton County, Virginia in August, 1831. In October, John Brown's raid on Harper Ferry was a prime example that even whites could fight for the abolition of slavery. The actions by the government following these rebellions only brought fuel to the flames for the call to abolish slavery.

Background

Battle of Gettysburg

Slavery in America began long before the United States had even become independent in 1776. The first recorded Africans, about 20 or so, brought to the colonies arrived in the British colony of Jamestown, Virginia in 1619. Slaves played an important role in the agriculture and economy of early America. The slave trade would bring almost four millions of slaves into the United States by 1860. The conditions of the slave trade, along with the conditions found on plantations, were quite often inhumane. The northern anti-slavery states eventually outlawed slavery and called for its eradication. In a clash between Confederate forces and the Union of the United States of America, the Civil War began in 1861. In the end, 620,000 Americans would die in the Civil War. The Union's victory brought an end to the abolition of slavery in the United States.

Rebellions in Virginia

Nat Turner's Rebellion

One African American slave who helped paved the way for rebellions to end slavery in the United States was Gabriel Prosser. Gabriel, who worked as a blacksmith, possessed the ability to read and write, which the education during the slave period was not common. Some believe that is what leads to many of these slave revolts in United States history. Gabriel and his followers intended to revolt on August 30, 1800, in Richmond, Virginia. Due to troubling weather conditions, the revolt was postponed. Unfortunately for Gabriel, two slaves told their owner of the planned rebellion and the Virginia state militia came to intervene. Although no attack could be executed, a court found 25 slaves guilty and they would hang, along with Gabriel Prosser.

One of the most famous slave revolts in Virginia occurred 31 years after Gabriel's conspiracy. Equipped with knives, axes, and other weapons, Nat Turner led a group of 70 African Americans on a slaughter through the Southampton County, Virginia. As Turner and his followers advanced through the neighborhood, they murdered over 50 white men, women, and children. Eventually, the state's militia was able to overpower Turner and his followers, and the rebellion came to an end. The state executed over 50 slaves and free blacks in retaliation and even more were killed by Virginia's militia forces. Nat Turner was eventually captured and on November 11th, 1831 he was hanged.

John Brown in the interior engine house

Not all slave rebellions are carried out by African Americans. In some instances, such as the raid on Harpers Ferry, it was not about color but instead a fight for equality. Located in Virginia, Harpers Ferry was a weapons arsenal for the United States. In an attempt to spark a rebellion across the South, John Brown, a white abolitionist, attacked Harpers Ferry. On October 16, 1859, John Brown and his followers, including 22 men, five of them being slaves, were able to capture several buildings at Harpers Ferry. The goal of this attack was to arm slaves with the facilities arsenal and spark a rebellion that would bring an end to slavery in the South. Although having high expectations for this raid, Brown's men were eventually outnumbered and outgunned by U.S. marine forces, led by Army Colonel Robert E. Lee, who became a legendary general for the Confederate forces in the Civil War. After being captured, Brown was found guilty of treason and was hanged on December 2, 1859. Just a year and a half after Brown's death, the United States would never be the same with the beginning of the end of slavery.

Aftermath

As a result of Gabriel's conspiracy, Virginia's government took many actions to ensure an end to future rebellions. In 1808, Virginia's government outlawed the ability of slaveholders to hire out their slaves. Along with this law, the Virginia Assembly passed a law that all free blacks must move out of the state within a year of becoming free, or face the persecution of being re-enslaved. It was believed that freed African Americans surrounding themselves with enslaved African American only caused black ambitions for future revolts. A similarity that arose between Gabriel Prosser and Nat Turner was not only their enslavement but also their abilities to read and write. Following Turner's rebellion, many Southern, pro-slave states mounted legislation that would make it illegal to teach slaves and free blacks how to read and write.