Final answer:
Slave owners in Virginia realized that rebellions were inevitable because of Gabriel's Plot, which led to increased vigilance and a firmer commitment to the institution of slavery.
Step-by-step explanation:
Because of Gabriel's Plot, slave owners in Virginia realized that rebellions were inevitable. Gabriel's well-orchestrated plan for a revolt in 1800 showcased the possibility of widespread coordination among slaves seeking liberty. Although Gabriel's explicit instruction to spare the lives of Methodists and Quakers, who were advocating for manumission, showed that there was some ideological reliance on allies within the white community, the revelation of the rebellion brought a harsh reality to slave owners — the existing slave population could, and would, organize rebellions. In reaction to such plots, the Virginia legislature and other slave states tightened their grip on the institution of slavery, rejecting calls for manumission and becoming even more vigilant against potential uprisings. The fear of slave uprisings further entrenched the institution rather than leading to its improvement or abolition.