Nat Turner Rebuttal

Nat Turner was a very religious man, without a doubt, but do we believe that his true motive was from God or do we believe that the sole reason for this rebellion was based on how educated he was? He was able to utilize his talents of reading and writing to create such a plan as to revolt against white slave owners by killing his own. It has also been stated that Nat Turner, at a very young age, was able to discuss events that occurred even before he was born, probing his level of intelligence. Nat Turner was a slave who was blessed enough to have been gifted with his mind, thus is why I believe that his education was how this plan truly came to be.

A slave who knew how to read and write could be a major threat, hence what Turner was capable of doing. Even though this plan caused chaos within the communities, hurting more than he intended, his message was heard, loud and clear. The rebellion made many people in Virginia, and most of the South, fearful of the uprising of slaves, so laws regarding educating slaves were put into place. "Whereas, the having slaves taught to write, or suffering them to be employed in writing, may be attended with great inconveniences; Be it enacted, that all and every person and persons whatsoever, who shall hereafter teach or cause any slave or slaves to be taught to write, or shall use or employ any slave as a scribe, in any manner of writing whatsoever, hereafter taught to write, every such person or persons shall, for every such offense, forfeit the sum of one hundred pounds, current money.” (John Simkin, September 1997, updated January 2015) People were slowly starting to realize the true amount of power behind education. Someone, especially as slave, at this time exhibited power and rank based off knowledge and/or money.

In conclusion, the ability and education that Nat Turner had over uneducated slaves, allowed him to step up and send a message to those around him, especially slave owners. He was able to speak for those who could say nothing. If educated slaves, with ability to read and write, were not the problem, then I believe the law regarding education would not have been put into place. There is the possibility that it was a combination of his religion and education, but without his intelligence the plan would have never succeeded. This specifically, was what set Turner apart form every other slave, not simply his religion.

http://spartacus-educational.com/USASeducation.htm

Bianca