Years before Turner’s Rebellion occurred, Nat Turner received what he believed to be messages from God. The visions he received encouraged him to become the leader of a revolt against whites. Because of his education and spirit, Turner was able to recruit around forty to fifty slaves to help him.
On August 21, 1831, Turner and his followers murdered the Travis family, who were their current owners. Using the resources stolen from their victims, Turner and his followers made their way throughout the county, resulting in a massacre of approximately fifty-five white men, women, and children. His original plan was to reach the armory in Jerusalem, a town over eight miles away. However, a group of armed white men stopped them and Turner ran into the forest.
After Turner’s Rebellion, Southern states decided to strengthen laws against slaves. Additionally, many innocent blacks were killed as a result. Some were executed for suspicion of helping in the revolt and others were beaten to death in revenge. Today, we know that around two hundred blacks and fifty-five whites were killed because of this insurrection. However, in the days shortly after, many rumors were spread, helped by the newspapers that reported them. Finally, about two months later, Nat Turner was captured on October 30, 1831. Then, on November 11, after pleading not guilty because it was “an act of God,” Turner was hanged.
