A person who takes charge takes on huge responsibilities. Taking charge is stepping outside the boundaries of ordinary. Nat Turner could certainly be looked at as a hero of his time and he definitely took charge of what he believed in to make change. When people think of heroes they normally assume that the person has super powers and doing “inhumane” things. Right away people refer heroes to cartoons and movies. A hero is simply someone who makes sacrifices to help others and they’re highly respected, a world changer. There are different types of heroes all over the world. A hero is Nat Turner. Nat Turner is a very independent strong person who fought for what he believed in to change the world for slaves and African Americans. According to (google source) Turner was born into slavery on October 2nd 1800, in Southampton Country, Virginia. Tuner wasn’t an ordinary slave he was able to learn
Its be told that after the rebellion about 100-200 African Americans were killed. (packet) Not to long after this on October 30, 1831 Tuner was captured. (google) Turner was allowed to go to court and have a trail, which ended November 11, 1831. He pled not guilty because the believed he was called by God. (google) Turner was found guilty and was hung, and the same went got the ones that where involved.(packet) Even though Turners rebellion seemed as if it had failed at the time, within time he was looked at as a hero for African Americans because he created change. Right after the rebellion slave laws became harsh. (google) But as the laws became harsh abolitionist grew more motivated. Tuner became a big part of history and people valued everything he did. He was a villain to the white man and a hero to the Negros because they finally got someone to stand up for their rights even though it was done a bloody way. Within time his attempts helped African Americans gain citizenship and
Published in 1975 by Harper Perennial, The Fires of Jubilee by Stephan Oates explores the personality of Nat Turner and the events which lead up to his leadership of the Virginian slave revolt of 1831 (Oates 4, 126). Young Nat was born into slavery in 1800, but, due to his precocity, he was early lead to believe in the probability, nee inevitability, of his eventual freedom (11-16). However, things were not to be so simple for him. Disease, death, and the vicissitudes of fortune all converged to cause Nat to remain a slave in the hands of several different owners. Of a highly introspective, superstitious nature, Nat chaffed at and brooded extensively on his circumstances – longing for freedom (24-32). Seeking an outlet for his intelligence
Nat Turner was a slave himself and every couple of months, he would get visions from the Spirit telling him things to do or look out for. Throughout his years, he was moved to different owners. In February 1831, there was an eclipse of the sun and Turner saw this as a sign that he needed to take action. Him and his four most trusted men got together and planned to hold the insurrection on July 4th. They were unable to do so on that day due to Turner’s illness. On August 13, there was another sign in which the sun appeared bluish-green. Turner set out to Joseph Travis, his owners house and killed the whole family. After that, they continued to kill all white people they came in contact with. As the rebellion continued, Turner’s men were being captured and killed. Turner escaped but was then captured and sentenced to execution. Nat Turner still remains a controversial black figure because of the rebellion, but his legacy of inspiring other slaves to find freedom by any means will still remain. Turner’s rebellion had a huge impact on the south because he was standing up for all of those who were in slavery.
Some people remembered John Brown as a hero because, According to Document B, “He had dared to act on the conviction of his life…” to save slaves.He gave land to fugitive slaves even if he’s not financially successful. He also participated in the Underground Railroad and in 1851 he helped establish the League of Gileadites, an organization that worked to protect escaped slaves from slave catchers.
Born into slavery, Nat Turner was perhaps one exception to the rule; he was a master's worst nightmare come true. Nat Turner was not only an intelligent man, he knew how to read and write; but he was also determined, willing to go to tremendous measures to gain his freedom, even if it meant killing. He was liked by both the whites and fellow slaves, some of whom came to think of him as a prophet, a savior of slaves.
Unfortunantly for the new leaders of the nation, they were left with many issues that challenged American ideals, including slavery. 1831 was a very pivotal year for the beginning of the abolishment of slavery. Soon after the eclipse, fear spread throughout Virginia of a possible slave rebellion. Eventhough some slave owners treated their slaves well, it did not mean they were safe from attack. On August 22, Nat Turner killed his master along with his family, the first account of slave rebellion in history. Turner’s Rebellion instilled fear in southern slave owners that a planned attack could occur at any moment (19). Thomas R. Gray, a slave owner and lawyer interviewed the slaves behind bars. He spoke with Turner for three day...
The slave owners we gaining with money for sold slaves or ganina free labor. Well Nat Turner had enough of all of this inequality and his signs from go was telling him that he was right to be so. Turner decided to take it to the extreme. In Justin Fornal article on Nat Turner’s Revolt, he explains who Turner decided to do now, “On August 21, Turner met with a group of fellow conspirators in the swampy woodlands around Cabin Pond. The group ate a meal and took a vow to kill all slave owners they encountered, including women and children,” (Fornal). He was tired for sitting back and not going anything. So he met up with other men who would follow him, and explained to them what the plan
...understanding of freedom. By exposing the wrongs done to slaves, Douglass greatly contributed to the abolitionist movement. He also took back some of the power and control from the slaveholders, putting it in the hands of the enslaved.
Who is a hero? In contemporary times, usage of the term has become somewhat of a cliché. Over the years, the term “hero” has become representative of a wide variety of individuals, each possessing differing traits. Some of the answers put forth by my colleagues (during our in-class discussion on heroism) as to whom they consider heroes pointed to celebrities, athletes, teachers and family members. Although the occupations differed, each of their heroes bore qualities that my classmates perceived as extraordinary, whether morally or physically. Nonetheless, Webster’s defines “hero” as “a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities.” Thus, it is worth considering that individuals become heroes relative to the situation with which they’re faced.
What is a hero? A hero can be classified as a number of things. A hero can be a person who in the opinions of others has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal. Ervin Staub, a holocaust survivor from Hungary and as scholar on altruistic behavior, has written, "Goodness like evil often begins in small steps. Heroes evolve; they aren't born. Very often the rescuers make only a small commitment at the start, to hide someone for a day or two. But once they had taken that step, they begin to see themselves differently, as someone who helps. What starts as mere willingness becomes intense involvement." The business man, Oskar Schindler, demonstrated a powerful example
He was never forgotten and he inspired a lot of people to go against slavery. As a result of the insurrection, Virginia debated about ending slavery but the state did not agree with the end of slavery. Work Cited Foner, Eric. A. Give Me a Liberty. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2006.
Harriet Tubman, an escaped runaway slave, helped over 300 African Americans get freedom. Many people published books and reports on slavery. They showed Americans, as well as the world, the harshness of slavery. Some abolitionists held posts on the Underground Railroad to help free slaves and even helped them hide at times.
The point that I am trying to prove with my historical investigation is: How did Nat Turner’s rebellion lead to the commencement of the Civil War in the United States thirty years after the insurrection took place. In order to answer this, one must comprehend why the Southampton Insurrection occurred, the influence it left on people and the history of the United States, and the reasons as to why the Civil War was fought. After extensive research, two of my most valuable sources I used were Scot French’s historical book The Rebellious Slave Nat Turner in American Memory and the Rebecca Vaughan House’s project on Nat Turner/1831 Southampton Insurrection Trial & restoration of the Rebecca Vaughan House, located on the Museum of Southampton History.
Nat Turner’s rebellion created an atmosphere of fear and paranoia among many Whites and as a result needs recognition as a contributing factor to the outbreak of the Snow Riot in D.C. Although Nat Turner’s revolt happened in 1831, four years on the it’s influence and the atmosphere of paranoia created it by it were still very much present in American and more specifically D.C. This becomes clear when considering the facts of the revolt which began on August 22, 1831, when Nat Turner and some fellow slaves snuck into their master's house and killed him and his family before moving from plantation to plantation doing the same to other White families. While the revolt was put down and the seventy slaves with Turner were either arrested or killed and Turner himself was hung two months after the fact, their revolt caused many White communities to feel great fear and paranoia.
After killing several other white family slave owners, Turner and his crew were approached by 18 men who appeared to be under the rule of Captain Alexander P. Peete. When he realized who he was dealing with he tried to get his men to run, but some were shot as a result of trying to escape when they had been caught. Most of the white families had fled so there was no one left for them to murder. (pg. 16.)
The rebellion began on August 21st 1831 after Nat Turner had two experiences that gave him motivation. It was on February 12, 1831 when Nat Turner first experienced a sign from god. It was solar eclipse that was occurring but he saw it as a “black man’s hand…reaching across the sun.” The second solar eclipse took place in February of 1831 that convinced him to lead a revolt against slavery. The objectives of the rebellion were to convince the African Americans that they have the same rights as though who are white and to bring pain and suffering to those who forced them to the terrible conditions they had to experience. On August 21st, Nat Turner and his group of rebels killed 55 white men, woman, and children. They showed these individuals what it was like to hurt, suffer, and endure pain. The rebellion was successful because groups all over the world, followed Nat Turner and believed that they are equal those of white skin color. It helped lead to other African Americans rebel against the whites. These events helped lead to the civil rights movement.