READ: Slavery and Abolition

Slave Resistance

Nat Turner

African American preacher Nat Turner believed his mission on Earth was to free his people from slavery. Seeing an 1831 solar eclipse as a message from above, he led a slave rebellion on four Virginia plantations.

• About 60 whites were killed, and Turner was captured, tried, and executed.
• To stop such uprisings, white leaders passed new laws to limit the activities of slaves and to strengthen the institution of slavery.