Why Did Nat Turner Start The Slave Rebellion?

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Why did Nat Turner start the rebellion? “To a mind like mine, restless, inquisitive, and observant of everything that was passing, it is easy to suppose that religion was the subject to which it would be directed and, although this subject principally occupied my thoughts, there was nothing that I saw or heard of to which my attention was not directed” (Nat Turner). Nat Turner led the slave rebellion to end slavery, which marked the beginning of the abolition movement. First, Nat Turner was the leader of a violent slave rebellion in Southampton County, Virginia, in 1831. “He was born on the Virginia plantation of Benjamin Turner, who allowed him to be instructed in reading, writing, and religion” (Hayes). Being able to read and write helped Nat Turner in various ways, especially being a leader. Turner was lucky enough that his slave owner let him do these things. “Nat Turner recalled that when he was a child, his grandmother and mother said he “was intended for some great purpose” (Hayes) This may have sparked Turner to do something about ending slavery. At the time …show more content…

“I should arise and prepare myself and slay my enemies with their own weapons” (Biography.com). Strength and braveness filled Nat Turner as he planned to revolt. With the power of God and his followers, he felt like he could do anything. “Turner took a solar eclipse that occurred in February 1831 as a signal” (Biography.com). Turner took various signs and symbols as a way to do something. It wasn’t a smart idea because he didn’t really have much time to prepare. “On August 21, 1831, Turner and his followers began their revolt against white slave owners starting with Travis family” (Biography.com). For Nat, starting at the roots of his slavery was the best part. After that, Nat and his followers were unstoppable. Although their plan didn’t succeed, they contributed to help start the abolition