AP US History in 1 Minute Daily: Nat Turner's Rebellion (Day 116/309)

Welcome to today’s explanation of Nat Turner’s Rebellion in my series- APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!

Runaway Slave Advertisement, Library of Congress

In the antebellum period, fears over slave revolts increased as “King Cotton” greatly expanded the desire for and subsequently the population of enslaved persons. Some of the most common types of rebellion were work slowdowns, sabotage, and escape.

Nat Turner Urging the Slaves to Rebellion, American Antiquarian Society

But violent slave revolts were also frequent, with over 200 being documented between 1800 and 1860. One of the most notable was led by Nat Turner, an enslaved preacher who had visions of ending slavery.

Horrid Massacre in Virginia, Library of Congress

In Virginia in 1831, Turner led others on a liberation mission and killed over 55 slave-owning whites. They were eventually stopped and most were killed. Whites, fueled by increased fears, created harsher slave codes to further subjugate African Americans.

Cinque The Chief of the Amistad captives, Library of Congress

However, while most rebellions were unsuccessful, there were instances of African Americans gaining their freedom through revolt such as in the Amistad Rebellion and the Creole Case.

Enslaved persons frequently resisted the dehumanizing conditions of slavery through rebellions, such as Nat Turner’s. Unfortunately, most were unsuccessful and resulted in harsher laws further restricting their freedoms.

Join me tomorrow as I explain African American Communities in the next APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!