Nat Turner was born into slavery on a small plantation in Southampton County, Virginia. Turner developed strong religious beliefs and became a well-respected minister in the local slave community. He also became convinced that God had called on him to overthrow slavery. In August 1831 Turner led some 75 slaves in a plan to kill all of the planter families in the county. During Nat Turner’s Rebellion, the slaves killed about 60 white people in the area. More than 100 slaves were killed in an attempt to put down the rebellion. Turner briefly escaped but was captured, put on trial, and hanged. Turner’s Rebellion scared many slaveholders and led them to strengthen their slave codes to increase their control over their slaves.
