Essays on Nat Turner

Nat Turner was born on October 2, 1800, in Southampton County, Virginia, on the plantation of Benjamin Turner. As a small child he could describe things that happened before he was even born. Turner was deeply religious and spent much time reading the Bible and praying. Turner believed in signs and heard divine voices.

On August 21, 1831, Turner and his supporters began a revolt against white owners. He killed his owner's familly. Turner gathered a group of up to 40 or 50 enslaved people. About 55 white men, women and children died during Turner's rebellion. Turner hid for six weeks until his discovery.

Turner was eventually captured on October 30, 1831. He was hung at Jerusalem, Virginia, along with 16 of his followers.

Turner became an important icon to the 1960s Black power movement. Turner has emerged as a hero, a religious fanatic and a villain.