The Nat Turner Rebellion
by Justin

The Nat Turner Rebellion was led by Nat Turner, Billy Artis and General Nelson.  Nat Turner was a Virginia slave and preacher.  Allegedly, Nat believed that God chose him to lead the Blacks to freedom by rebellion through violence against the White people. He used his position as preacher to persuade people to join the rebellion.  Billy Artis was a free Black man who joined Nat and General Nelson, a well respected slave, to lead the rebellion.

   Nat Turner, Billy Artis, General Nelson and approximately 70 Black people of the male gender began to kill White families in Southampton County, Virginia.  The killing rampage lasted for two days and left about sixty White people dead.  The Virginia militia and local residents captured and killed most of the rebels.  Vigilante White groups killed hundreds of innocent Black people as a result of the rebellion and the fear and anger it caused.  The only rebel not captured initially was Nat Turner. Two months later, Nat Turner surrendered to a farmer and was put into jail and later hanged.

As a result of the rebellion, laws were created to limit Blacks’ freedom, both free and enslaved.  No one was allowed to teach slaves reading or writing.  No Blacks could get together in groups to communicate.    

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