Summary Of Gabriel Prosser's Rebellion

At the end of the Revolutionary War, America had taken a new identity. The new standards of the government had inspired the African Americans to torturously work for many years to gain similar rights as the Whites. The advancing technology not only expanded the efficiency of producing goods through the invention of machines but also the Southern economy. Slaves in the South were determined to gain freedom even if it came with consequences. Some Southern slaves were buying their freedom legally while others were simply rebelling against their masters, disobeying their orders and what not. On the other hand, free African Americans were concentrating on reasons as to why freedom was important, and let their beliefs and values guide them towards supporting the end of slavery.

One of the methods that were very common was buying freedom, instead of gaining it. While working for the Whites, some “lucky” slaves were able to maintain a beneficial relationship with their masters. Venture Smith, an enslaved African American shares his experience in his 1798 Narrative. Venture Smith shares how his master let him earn money for freedom. Some slaves weren’t as lucky as Venture Smith. Some had to cross their limits and turn into monsters to escape and intimidate their masters. “Ben”, a conspirator in Gabriel Prosser’s Rebellion, shared how the messages that were conveyed through the Bible encouraged him to fight in the rebellion and against slavery. While this rebellion wasn’t as successful, many others were such as the slave revolt that was led by Nat Turner in 1829. This revolt expressed the many emotions that were oppressed in the bodies of the slaves such as fear. However, one emotion that was expressed freely was courage and braveness which encouraged them to fight back and make an effort to gain their rightfully owned