Example research essay topic: Nat Turner Slave Revolt - 1,244 words

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& # 65279; 'Nat Turner's Southampton Slave Revolt and How it Paved the Way for the Abolitionist and Civil Rights Movement ' Nat Turner was a man with a vision that would change America forever. His vision may have not sounded right to the average person but to Nat Turner, he was on Earth to realize his vision. Nat Turner is the most famous and most controversial slave rebel in American history, and he remains a storm center of dispute ('Fires of Jubilee' author Stephen B. Oates). Nat Turner's slave revolt may have not been the greatest way to solve the problem of slavery, but it did open many people's eyes. Slavery was an accepted practice in society but it was not a humane or kind thing.

The cruel and unjust treatment by the slave masters in the 1800 's led to Nat Turner's slave revolt, which in turn led to the abolitionist movement. Nat Turner was born on October 2, 1800 in the small town of Jerusalem in Southampton, Virginia. Nat's mother Nancy was one of 400, 000 native Africans brought to North America before 1808. While most of the Africans had come from West Africa, Nancy's was supposedly from in the North's Nile River country ('Fires of Jubilee').

Folk chroniclers say that slave traders or warlike natives abducted Nancy when she was a teenager. She was thrust over to European slave traders and crammed on a disease infested slave boat headed to the New World ('Fires of Jubilee'). Nancy's ship landed at Norfolk, Virginia around 1795. She then was herded more inland where slave traders exhibited her at several slave auctions. Around 1799 Nancy was brought by Benjamin Turner and her life on a plantation began.

Not long after Nancy had arrived at the plantation, she married another slave whose name is unknown ('Fires of Jubilee'). Their union produced Nathaniel 'Nat' Turner. In Hebrew this name meant 'the gift of God. " Nancy did not want to bring her young son up as a slave so she tried to kill him. The slave owners punished Nancy for trying this and shackled her for a lengthy period. As Nancy watched Nat get a little older, she noticed that she had a special child. She was extremely proud of her young son Nat.

Nat was bright, and quick to learn and he stood out from the rest of the children. In one instance, Nancy overheard a conversation Nat was having with some of his playmates. He was telling them of a story that had taken place long before he had been born, yet he told the story like he was there. Nancy asked young Nat 'Did anyone tell you this story?' He replied 'No, somehow I just know. ' Nancy beckoned other slaves to come hear this story, and to see if Nat were telling it correctly. By and by these other slaves were astonished because he told the story again and explained it just the way it happened ('Fires of Jubilee'). Nat later recalled the incident and said that only the almighty could have given him such powers of recollection ('Fires of Jubilee').

Nat's Mother and Father realizing that they had someone special, praised Nat for his extraordinary brilliance and great imagination. They believed so much that Nat was going to be something special that, they showed other slaves scars and bumps that were on Nat's chest. In African tradition it is said that a male with the markings, like Nat's, was destined to become a leader ('Fires of Jubilee'). Nat's parents, his grandmother, and other slaves were all in agreement that 'he was intended for some great purpose, and would surely become a prophet. ' ('Fires of Jubilee') Another astonishing thing about Nat Turner was his ability to read.

Never in his life had he been taught or educated by someone, yet he knew how. One day while Nat was crying and carrying on, another slave gave him a book to 'play with. " Instead Nat sat and proceeded to list the words in the book and read the book ('Fires of Jubilee'). The slave masters were astonished because none of the slaves could read or write, yet Nat knew how. The master did not overlook Nat's literacy and superior intelligence, yet he only encouraged Nat to read the bible because of his strong religious beliefs. Reading the bible is where Nat received many of his callings to start his massive slave revolt. As Nat grew a little older, his life began to change in a succession of unsuspected shocks.

First, his father ran away to the North, leaving Nat and Nancy still in slavery. After escaping he was never heard from again, but Nat never forgot him ('Fires of Jubilee'). Around 1810 Nat's master Benjamin, died of a typhoid epidemic that was sweeping through the small Virginia neighborhood. In Master Benjamin's will, he divided his land and his slaves among his children. Nat and his mother now became property of Samuel Turner. Master Samuel was a cruel slave owner compared to his.

Like his father he was religious but he scared Christian religion into his slaves. He told them that God had brought them to the new world to serve the white man, and that they were to be obedient to the whites. He said if the slaves tried ever to revolt or try to escape they would burn in hell with Satan forever. Nat lived under these ridiculous beliefs while on the plantation yet his belief in the lord and the bible never favored. Another new experience was presented to Nat when he turned twelve, he started to work difficult and laborious chores like the older male slaves. He could no longer play games with white children, no more fishing and cavorting.

The same white children he and the other young slave children played with began ordering them around, and now Nat began to do grueling slave work. Young Nat continued to persevere and he worked through these rough times. He woke up before the sunlight, to an unhealthy breakfast of corn mush, milked the cows, fed the hogs and tended to the fields. Slavery was hard and because of the brilliance Nat displayed as a boy he thought he would never be doing this, but he was. When not ending to the fields or feeding animals Nat helped repair fences, and since Nat was a strong man he did much of the heavy lifting. Although the slave life was bad, the slaves did there best to survive and try and keep their mind off their hardships.

It was when the slaves could get away from the crack of the Master's whip and far away from the master's yelling. At night some slaves would gather around a fire with their children and tell stories of freedom and sing songs. They would also speak about things they had heard on the slave grapevines about slaves in other parts of the south planning revolts. At these gatherings at night, Nat would shine. He would speak brilliantly to all of the slaves and he always talked about the day that slaves would rise and claim their freedom.

Nat would participate in anything involving public speaking, and especially speaking to slaves about religion. Nat would sneak books and read them, and from some of these books he learned how to make gunpowder. Religion was still his greatest interest though. He was an acknowledged leader...

Research essay sample on Nat Turner Slave Revolt