Herbert Aptheker has recorded over hundred
insurrections. Although most slave revolts in America were small and
ineffective, there were three in particular which chilled Southern
hearts. These were led by Gabriel Prosser, Denmark Vesey, and Nat
Turner and occurred within the short span between 1800 and 1831.
Toussaint l'Ouverture in Haiti had previously demonstrated that slaves
could be victorious over large European armies, and the American
colonists had taught by their example in the American Revolution that
violence in the service of freedom was justifiable. The gradual
abolition of slavery which was occurring in the Northern states gave
hope that the institution in America might be terminated altogether.
However, the slaves saw little reason to believe that their Southern
masters would follow the example of the Northerners in abolishing
slavery. Many of the slaves came to accept that if the institution
was to be destroyed, it would have to be done by the slaves
themselves.
In August, 1800, Gabriel Prosser led a slave attack on Richmond,
Virginia. During several months of careful planning and organizing,
the insurrectionists had gathered clubs, swords, and other crude
weapons.
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