In the August of 1831, Nathaniel “Nat” Turner led one of the only effective and sustained slave rebellions in U.S. history which left dozens, including young children, dead. Turner moved through the county, accompanied by his group of rebels. They went through houses, recruiting followers and killing whites. Nat Turner had gathered approximately 75 men, including five free black men, by the time the white population of Southampton had become aware of the insurrection. Despite the fact his insurgency was crushed, it created a wave of fear through the South and triggered a new surge of tyrannical legislation which forbade the movement, education, and assembly of slaves. It stiffened pro-slavery, anti-abolitionist convictions which continued in the district until the American Civil War in 1861. Historian Eric …show more content…
Due to this, many people led themselves to believe that the insurrection wouldn’t have been so successful if Nat Turner hadn’t been educated. Hence, many whites became fearful of educating blacks after the rebellion as they feared they would challenge white supremacy. Whites rationalised slavery by telling each other that the blacks were intrinsically less intelligent and civilized than they were and by allowing education to black slaves this would be exposed as a lie. Very few blacks received any education at all and black schools obtained far less financial support than white schools. Shortly after the uprising, it became a crime to teach either free blacks or blacks in slavery as anxiety increased amidst the white community. 1831 was seen as a significant year to desist the education of blacks in order to prevent any future slave revolts. Hence, The Southampton Insurrection significantly impacted the southern populace’s opinion on the education of blacks because Nat Turner had learnt to read at a young age. However, The Southampton Insurrection arguably strengthened anti-slavery