The first way slaves would resist their enslavement is through Revolts. There are 3 slave insurrections in American History: John Brown’s raid at Harper’s Ferry in 1859, Denmark Vesey’s revolt in 1822, and Nat Turners revolt in August 21, 1831. The first conspiracy for a revolt was started by Denmark Vesey, a free slave Methodist leader. On May 30, 1822, George Wilson, "a favourite and confidential slave" (Pearson 429) informed his master of a planned insurrection that involved thousands of free and enslaved blacks who lived in and around Charleston. Charleston authorities subsequentl

then word of the rebellion had gotten out to the whites; confronted by a group of militia, the rebels scattered, and Turner's force became disorganized. After spending the night near some slave cabins, Turner and his men attempted to attack another house, but were repulsed. Several of the rebels were captured. The remaining force then met the state and federal troops in final skirmish, in which one slave was killed and many escaped, including Turner. In the end, the rebels had stabbed, shot and clubbed at least fifty-five white people to death. Nat Turner hid in several different places near the Travis farm, but on October 30 was discovered and captured. His "Confession," dictated to physician Thomas R. Gray, was taken while he was imprisoned in the County Jail. On November 5, Nat Turner was tried in the Southampton County Court and sentenced to execution. He was hanged, and then skinned, on November 11. In total, the state executed fifty-five people. The state reimbursed the slaveholders for their slaves. But in the hysterical climate that followed the rebellion, close to 200 black people, many of who had nothing to do with the rebellion, were murdered by white mobs. In addition, slaves as far away as North Carolina were accused of having a connection with the insurrection, and were subsequently tried and executed. The state legislature of Virginia considered abolishing slavery, but in a close vote decided to retain slavery and to support a repressive policy against black people, slave and free.

The last insurrection, Harper’s Ferry, Led by john Brown was in October 1859. John Brown was born in Connecticut in 1800 and became interested in the abolitionist movement in 1835. In 1855, Brown and his sons moved to Kansas. Kansas was a territory divided over the issue of slavery. On the night of May 24, 1856 at Pottawotamie Creek, Brown and his sons murdered a group of men who supported slavery, although none actually owned slaves. Brown

Nat Turner led the second major revolt. Nat Turner was born on October 2, 1800, in Southampton County, Virginia. While still a young child, Nat was overheard describing events that had happened before he was born. “This, along with his keen intelligence, and other signs marked him in the eyes of his people as a prophet” (Beaulieu 510). A deeply religious man, he "therefore studiously avoided mixing in society, and wrapped [him]self in mystery, devoting [his] time to fasting and praying"(Keegan 267). In 1821, Turner ran away from his overseer, returning after thirty days because of a vision in which the Spirit had told him to "return to the service of my earthly master" (Oates 163). The next year, following the death of his master Nat was sold to Thomas Moore. Three years later, Nat Turner had another vision. He saw lights in the sky and prayed to find out what they meant. Then

The other main way that slaves would resist slavery is through their work. Slaves would do many things to get out of their work. One thing they would do is keep productivity low. They would be forced to work horrible hours such as daylight to sunset. They would resist by not working as hard as they could. They would slowly pick the cotton until the owner was looking. They would slack off as much as possible to not have to work as hard. Also to resist slavery

lengthy trial, Vesey and thirty-six others were hanged. On the day of Vesey

Some topics in this essay:
John Brown, Nelson Sam, Nat Turner, Harper’s Ferry, County Virginia, Santo Domingo, Washington Brown, United States’, Creek Brown, County Court, harper’s ferry, john brown, nat turner, resist slavery, slaves resist, brown sons, slaves resist slavery, southampton county, methodist leader, denmark vesey, spring push, slaves resist enslavement, free enslaved blacks,