Nat Turner was a slave and preacher who lived in Southampton County, Virginia, during the early 19th century. Driven by religious conviction, in 1831 Turner led a rebellion of enslaved African Americans who sought to overthrow the institution of slavery. The insurrectionists killed between 55 and 65 white people, and many of the enslaved people Turner had recruited were killed, driven away, or captured. In the aftermath of the uprising, Turner and 17 of those associated with the revolt were hanged.
The Nat Turner Rebellion was a powerful and influential event in the history of African American resistance to slavery. The revolt exposed the dangers of slave revolts and caused southern states to increase surveillance of the enslaved and adopt harsher punishments for those caught conspiring or rebelling against the institution of slavery. Ultimately, the revolt was not effective in overturning slavery. However, it inspired many African Americans to continue to fight for their rights and freedom throughout the antebellum period and beyond.