Nat Turner's Rebellion - Uncle Tom's Cabin

Nat Turner's Rebellion - Uncle Tom's Cabin

To the white residents of Southampton County, it came as a surprise

that a slave named Nat Turner was the leader of a slave rebellion that

resulted in the deaths of 55 white people. This rebellion, which

Turner believed was directed by God, became one of the most famous

slave insurrections in U.S. history.

Nat Turner was born in Southampton County, Virginia on October 2,

1800. As a young boy, Turner was recognized as being highly

intelligent. His keen sense was noticed when he was about three or

four years old. While he was playing with other children, his mother

overheard him telling them about something that had happened before he

was born. She asked him details about the incident, and it confirmed

that he knew about this past event. Thereafter, other slaves believed

that in addition to his unique perception, his physical markings were

a sign that he would be a prophet.

In adulthood, he became a preacher. As a young man, he began having

visions that he believed were from God. Turner had three visions prior

to the rebellion in 1831. His first vision occurred in 1821, after he

had run away. While hiding out in the woods, he was prompted to return

after a vision from the Spirit who directed him to "return to the

service of my earthly master." After thirty days in the woods, he

returned to his master.

His second vision came in 1825 after he had seen "lights in the sky."

He prayed to find out what it meant. His prayers were answered when ".

. . while labouring in the field, I discovered drops of blood on the

corn, as though it were dew from heaven . . . I then found on the

leaves in the woods hieroglyphic characters and numbers, with the

forces of men in different attitudes, portrayed in blood, and

representing the figures I had seen before in the heavens."

On May 12, 1828 he had his third vision. He ".