Were there slave revolts between the years 1789-1860?

Answer 1

ANSWER:

Revolt was the most violent form of resistance to slavery. There are dozens of rebellions and conspiracies on record. Most, however, were detected and stopped before the slaves could carry out their plans.

Between 1700 and 1860, there were at least 100 revolts, most of them taking place between 1800 to 1860. A major revolt was prevented in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1822. Denmark Vesey, a free Black, organized slaves to capture the city. The revolt was betrayed by one of the participants, and 37 Blacks were executed for their role in this plan.

The bloodiest revolt, and perhaps the most famous, was that of Nat Turner. It occured in Southampton County, Virginia, in 1831. Turner, a slave preacher had been considered a model slave, obedient, and respectful. Convinced that he was called by God to free the Blacks, Turner organized a band of slaves and, recruiting more as he went, terrorized the people of southern Virginia. Starting with the family who owned the plantation on which he was a slave. Turner killed some 60 Whites, sparing no one, regardless of age or sex. During the hunt for Turner and his followers, nearly 100 Blacks were killed as well.

Turner was eventually caught and put in jail. Turner sat in his cell proud and defiant. He and about 20 of his followers were brought to trial and executed.

In some respects a more meaningful, and certainly a more tragic, rebel than Nat Turner was the runaway who was trapped at the Ohio River. Rather than let her children be taken back to slavery, she stabbed them to death. She was stabbing herself when she was caught and restrained. Her action is not an isolated one. According to antislavery publications, other slave mothers also killed their children rather than see them destroyed by the hated slave system.

Then, in the 1850's, John Brown would add his name to the list of those against slavery. To Brown the goal of abolishing slavery was so right and just that the most unlawful and inhuman means could be used in achieving it. As his slayings in Kansas showed. Brown held human life secondary to antislavery.

Financed by abolitionists from New York and New England, John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry was carefully planned. The idea was to seize the federal arsenal located at Harper's Ferry. Brown would distribute guns from the arsenal to the slaves who joined him and lead a widespread rebellion to end slavery. However, the plan failed.

Colonel Robert E. Lee, invaded the arsenal and captured Brown. The state gave Brown a fair trial, but convicted and hanged him for "treason against the Commonwealth of Virginia.