Since the beginning of the United States of America, oppression has been an integral

part of its foundation. Oppression of the Native Americans, oppression of immigrants,

oppression of women and most visibly the oppression of black people. The oppression of black
people in the United States extends back to almost the beginning of this nation and is so deeply
entrenched in the systems that were created in the beginning of this nation that it still affects us
today. Some of the most significant events and decisions that happened in the early United
States all had to do with the oppression of black people. When we look at events such as the
3/5ths compromise, the Dred Scott decision, the Missouri Compromise, the Kansas-Nebraska
Act, the secession of the south and the civil war, it is easy to see just how much the oppression
of black people affected the country on a nationwide scale. Another one of these notable event
was the rebellion of Nat Turner, also known as the Southampton Insurrection. The rebellion of
Nat Turner would prove to shake the foundation of the institution of slavery. It would also prove
to spread fear and panic to members of the white population and fan a flame of hope in the
hearts of slaves. The rebellion of Nat Turner was so impactful that even in today's modern world
of 2016 it still has a significant effect on the nation today.
The climate of the nation surrounding the events of the rebellion were interesting to say
the least. The year was 1831, Andrew Jackson was president , the Cherokee nation was taking
up issue with the state of Georgia, William Lloyd Garrison began publishing an abolitionist
journal and the first United States steam engine was making its first voyage. What was less
known at the time was the rebellion that was brewing in the heart of a rather unassuming slave.
Nat Turner was a literate slave, a rarity during that day in age. He was a pious man, an avid
studier of the Bible who was acknowledged by white and black people alike to be somewhat of a
preacher (McClellan, 2000). Turner was enslaved on the Virginia plantation of a Mr. Joseph
Travis who was described to be a kind master (Nash et al.,2008). Nat Turner was a visionary
man to say the least, he often claimed to have received visions and signs from God. It was one
of these visions that would inspire him to plan and execute the insurrection. The vision,
combined with the ever increasing dissatisfaction of being enslaved, and the desire for freedom
by any means necessary would have Nat Turner leading the bloodiest slave revolt in United
States history. Early in the morning on August 22, 1831 Turner and 6 other slaves that had
pledged allegiance to the cause began their rebellion. It started in the home of Turners then
master Joseph Travis, Turner and his fellow slave Will Francis killed Travis and the rest of his
household, totalling of five members (Cromwell,1920). Turner and his fellow slaves then armed
themselves with a few muskets and other tools that could be used as weapons and continued
on their way through the rest of the town. They soon began to amass in numbers and before the
party was stopped near the town of Jerusalem they had grown in number to about fifty or sixty
enslaved men (Wood and Walbert, 2008). Turner and his fellow insurgents were stopped by an
army of about three thousand white militiamen, sent by the Governor to put down the uprising.
Vastly outnumbered and having made three unsuccessful attempts to cross the Cypress bridge
(Cromwell,1920) the band of insurgents broke apart and fled to escape death and
imprisonment (Wood and Walbert, 2008). Turner hid in a nearby swarp for the next two months
before he was discovered and taken to stand trial for his crimes. Turner was found guilty and
sentenced to death by way of the gallows before being skinned (McClellan, 2000). Every slave
that had been apart of the rebellion, and even some who had not been were executed, as well
(Mcclellan, 2000).

The aftermath of the rebellion is a particularly interesting study that we can break down
into immediate effects and long term effects. The immediate consequences for the slaves and
free black people of Virginia and the other southern states was quick, harsh and too often, fatal.
After the uprising had been quelled there was a number of vigilante killings of black people,
enslaved or free (Wood and Walbert, 2008). Although no exact numbers are known there was
an estimated two to three hundred black people that were killed in retaliation (Wood and
Walbert, 2008). The less extreme consequences included strict and highly enforced Slave
Codes, which would be a precursor to the Black Codes that would come later during the
reconstruction era, and an emergency meeting of the Virginia legislature to discuss whether or
not to abolish slavery (McClellan, 2000). Whats more a more interesting aspect of this event to
look at is the long term effects on the attitudes of Americans, bond and free, going forward from
this event. One of the reasons that I believe this event is one of the most significant in the early
history of the United States is because it reveals the attitudes and fears of people back in 1831,
and speaks to some of the lingering attitudes that exist today.
Fear plays a massive part in the attitudes following the Southampton Insurrection. White
southerners fear of black people, and their fear of their own vulnerability. When it comes down
to the facts of the rebellion there wasnt much for the white populus to be afraid of at all. The
rebellion lasted for less than twenty four hours, only 57 people were killed and no one outside of
Southampton county was at risk (McClellan,2000). Nevertheless, the white populus was shaken
to the core, for wasnt this always the white mans fear? That the black man would rise against
him and take their livelihood or worse inflict the same inhumane torture they received on their
white counterparts? And so fear enabled the states to make laws forbidding black people to hold
meetings, whether they were free or enslaved (McClellan, 2000). They made laws forbidding the
education of slaves, lest there be another Nat Turner in their midst. It is important to take note
of the parallel between the events after the Insurrection and the events following the Civil War,
motivated by fear and a myriad of other things, in both situations laws were passed to break the
spirit of the black people, to sure that black men and women knew that their place in life was
well below the white man.
Even though laws were passed in an attempt to break the spirit of the black person in
the aftermath of the rebellion, the opposite effect was occurring. Although it was hidden beneath
layers of self protection, the spirit of Nat Turner was alive and well within many of the slaves that
lived during that time, and continued to thrive in heart and spirits of black people for generations
to come. Take for example the words of civil rights activist Ossie Davis, spoken 137 years after
Nat Turners death he says deep down inside, even though we didnt know his name, Nat
Turner was always alive... Our sacred promise to ourselves that someday...somehow...we would
all rise up, black and beautiful and throw off our Tomish ways and stand up against the white
man like men, even if it cost us our lives. (McClellan, 2000).
Its clear to see that the Southampton Insurrection had a great impact on the U.S. after
the event occurred. It was a precursor to the many trials and tribulations that the black person
would have to go though in the course of American history. The attitudes and beliefs expressed
during this time in history continue to affect our world today because of how deeply they are
imbedded into the systems that our country relies upon. And still the spirit of Nat Turner lives on
in every black person who continues to fight against injustice, intolerance and for every human
being to be treated as such no matter what their skin color is.

Works Cited
Cromwell, J. W. (1920). The Aftermath of Nat Turners Insurrection. The Journal of Negro
History, 5(2), 208234. Doi:2713592

McClellan, J. R. (2000). Historical moments: Changing Interpretations of Americas past: V. 2

(2nd ed.). United Kingdom: McGraw-Hill Publishing Co.

Nash, G. B., Jeffrey, J. R., Howe, J. R., Frederick, P. J., Davis, A. F., Winkler, A. M., Pestana,
C. G. (2008). The American people: Creating a Nation and a Society, concise edition, volume 1
(7th edition) (6th ed.). Boston, MA, United States: Pearson Education (US).

Wood, M. L., & Walbert, D. (2009). Nat Turners rebellion - north Carolina digital history.
Retrieved December 13, 2016, from http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-newnation/45

Reflection
The Southampton Insurrection, otherwise known as Nat Turners Rebellion has been more
relevant today that maybe at any other time in history. Earlier this year we saw the release of
the movie Birth of a Nation, not to be confused with the 1935 KKK propaganda movie of the
same name, Birth of a Nation told the story of Nat Turner and his rebellion. Written, produced
and directed by Nate Parker the movie did fairly well at the box office and resonated heavily with
the black community here in America. Considering the tumultuous and rather divisive racial
environment that exists in the U.S. today is is easy to see why many black people find a
commonality with Turner. Not so much his actions of killing people, but with his spirit of rebellion.
His spirit of rebellion has continued throughout the years to inspire black people to continue the
fight against oppression, if you take the words of Stephen B. Oates in 1975 he says So in
death Nat Turner achieved a kind of victory denied him in life--he became a martyred soldier of
slave rebellion who broke his chains... (McClellan, 2000). He definitely lives on continuing to
fan the flames of defiance in those who are oppressed. I can connect the importance of religion
to Nat Turner to many of the instances of religious fervor that I learned about in my world
religions course. The devotion and faith had by some can and will cause them to do things that
some people would never even consider. Although I didnt discuss it much in my essay, Nat
Turner grew up in the middle of the Second Great Awakening when religiosity was at an all time
high. Claims of spirits, signs and visions from God were not at all uncommon and the piousness
of Nat Turner allowed him to appeal to so many people throughout his life and after his death.

Works Cited

McClellan, J. R. (2000). Historical moments: Changing Interpretations of Americas past: V. 2

(2nd ed.). United Kingdom: McGraw-Hill Publishing Co.