Slave Revolts

1
Slave Revolts
"What is man born for but to be ... a remaker of
what man has made?"
2
Gabriels Rebellion--1800

• Gabriel planned to create a huge army of escaped
  slaves and eventually take over the Governors
  mansion forcing him to accept their demands.
• Didnt work because of bad weather and two slaves
  who sold him out. He was captured, tried and
  convicted, and finally executed.

3
Fort Blount, FL --1816

• Former British fort held by 300 escaped slaves.
• Used as a raiding staging post.
• Destroyed by Jackson and US troops.

4
Denmark Vesey--1822

• Won 1500 and bought his freedom.
• Artisan in Charleston, SC.
• Organized 9000 slaves in an attempted revolt.
• Betrayed and hung.

5
Nat Turner1831

• Claimed that he had been chosen by God to lead
  the slaves to freedom.
• August 21 Nat and 6 other slaves killed the
  Travis family. He gathered 75 other slaves,
  killed 51 whites.
• Hid for 6 weeks, was hanged in Jerusalem, VA.

6
Amistad--1839
7
Amistad contd

• The Amistad was a slave ship en route to Puerto
  Principe from Havana. On board were 5 whites, a
  mulatto cook, a black cabin boy and 53 slaves.
• The slaves broke free and took over. Two crewmen
  were spared and a deal was struck. They would
  live as long as they got the slaves back to
  Africa.
• The crewmen sailed towards Africa during the day,
  but to America in the night. They landed in Long
  Island.

8
Amistad trial

• Captured and became a legal issue and made it to
  the Supreme Court.
• JQA argues for 8 hrs in defense.
• Returned to Africa in 1842.

9
The Creole--1841

• Slave trader with 135 slaves on board.
• Mutiny and capture of the ship.
• Sails to British Bahamas.