Born a plantation slave, Turner was a popular religious leader among his fellow slaves. He ultimately became convinced that he had been chosen by God to lead his people out of bondage. On August 21, 1831, Turner and five other slaves killed their master and his family and started a general revolt together with about 60 slaves from other plantations. More than 50 whites were killed before the rebellion could be brought under control by militiamen and volunteers. Numerous blacks were lynched by mobs in reprisal, and Turner was convicted and hanged, together with about 15 others. The result of the uprising was to strengthen the resolve of the southern states in the policing and control of slaves by the Fugitive Slave Laws and seriously damaged the movement for the abolishing of slavery in the South.
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The Confessions of Nat Turner
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