Nat Turner

Nat Turner was an American enslaved person and religious leader who led a significant slave rebellion in Virginia in 1831. Believing he was chosen by God to end slavery, Turner and fellow rebels killed dozens of white slaveholders and their families. The uprising was quickly suppressed, leading to widespread violence and stricter laws against enslaved people. Turner’s actions highlighted the brutal realities of slavery and fueled debates about abolition. He remains a controversial figure—some see him as a hero fighting for freedom, others as a violent insurgent—while his rebellion marked a pivotal moment in the history of resistance against slavery in the United States.