Nat Turner
...riven by the promises and covenants held within the bible. Nat had shown himself to be a man to God, that had no bad attributes. Nat was married to a slave named Cherry, as Oats(1975) states they jumped over the broomstick together and so were married. Cherry bore children by Nat - a daughter and it’s unclear if he had one or two sons. The family was separated according to Oats(1975) they still remained in Southampton but on different farms. It’s very true that knowledge does bring sorrow. Oats(1975) brings out emotional and graphic feelings of Nat during this time. He was a intelligent black man of God that was shackled in slavery. Oats(1975) tells how Nat fasted and prayed, he didn’t really socialize with black or white. He was well respected among the slaves but stayed to himself. From Harding(1981) we see that Nat waited and worked, in 1825 a clearer vision came: “I saw white spirits and black spirits engaged in battle, and the sun was darkened-the thunder rolled in the Heavens, and blood flowed in streams-and I heard a voice saying, ’Such is your luck, such you are called to see, and let it come rough or smooth, you must surely bear it”.2 This was one of several visions that Nat had seen or spoken with the Holy Ghost. Remember during this time insurrection was not new. You had the defeat of the French in 1800. There were the anxious years surrounding Santo Domingo and the Gabriel conspiracy in Richmond. Insurrection scares periodically showed their heads such as Denmark Vesey conspiracy. Vesey was the one that lectured fellow blacks that slavery was against the bible and blacks shouldn’t take insults from the whites. There were other factors accruing, such as the protective tariff in 1828, which raised duties on imported raw material and manufactured goods. This would only increase the tension, because the tariff only help the Northern manufactures. So when Nat’s insurrection happened in 1831 the failing society of the South tried to entrench it self for battle. The paranoia from the insurrection spread like wild fire. Many whites and blacks lost their life. Many towns and counties created militias that turned into lynch mobs. The very fabric of society was being tested. As Oats(1975) brings out the insurrection was ended but armies were beginning created to fight a imaginary up rise. The fight was on but the method was changed. In the beginning of the year William Lloyd Garrison and Isaac Knapp started publishing the Liberator in Boston. Oats(1975) points out that after the insurrection the Southerners seized on the Liberator and held Garrison and his abolitionist cohorts responsible. But in reality Garrison was demanding a nonviolent approach to ending slavery. Oats(1975) shows that the circulation of the Liberator was small but increase after Nat’s insurrection. The Liberator became so well known a $5,000 bounty was put on Garrison’s head. What Garrison had did was hit the main cord of morality with in the white population of both the North and South. Lines were drawn , you were either for or against slavery. Oats(1975) indicates newspapers such as the Richmond Whig joined in the fight against slavery with announcements like “Nat Turner and the blood of his innocent victims have conquered the silence of fifty years”. The conviction of men these men changed society. Words that touch the very depths of the soul-makes you weep and tremble at such co...