SLAVE REBELLIONS:

Rebellion

In addition to the slave revolts listed below, remember that the slave insurrection in Haiti in 1801, led by Toussaint L'Ouverture, struck fear into the hearts of southern slaveholders.

* Gabriel Prosser's rebellion--Virginia, 1800
o Word of slave revolt in Haiti gradually spread to mainland
o Gabriel Prosser, a slave blacksmith who enjoyed a modest amount of freedom because of his position, plotted with his brother to lead an insurrection to free blacks in tidewater Virginia
o Prosser managed to gain support of about 50-60 slaves--perhaps as many as 1,000 other slaves knew about it
o Plans to burn Richmond failed because of wet weather
o Whites learned of the plan, and executed a number of the leaders, including both Prossers
o Not all blacks were executed -- many sold away to Deep South
o Failed revolt left many whites in the area very nervous for a long time

* Denmark Vesey
o free black -- won freedom in a lottery
o conspired to lead a rebellion in Charleston in 1822
o many slaves from leading families involved (maybe as many as 3,000)
o rebellion harshly put down

* Nat Turner's Rebellion
o Southampton County, Virginia--Aug. 1831
o Turner somewhat educated as a child, became a preacher
o Planned for a long time on how to revolt
o led group of about 100 slaves on rebellion--tried to get more to join, but they were scared
o killed sixty whites, men and women, young and old
o nearly 200 blacks executed, including many who knew of rebellion but did not join


SOURCE: Prof. David McGee, Central VA Community College...thanks, prof!