Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion

Nat Turner was an enslaved person in Virginia who planned a revolt for many years. A solar eclipse in the beginning of 1831 as well as an atmospheric disturbance causing the sun to appear green in August caused him to choose these dates for the rebellion. More than 70 enslaved and Free Black people took part in the revolt and some consider it to be the most significant uprising in American history. Turner's slave owner was the first of ~55-65 whites killed in the uprising, which makes it the deadliest (for whites) slave revolt. The rebels did not have guns and only used what they could find. State militia put down the uprising two days later. White violence against Black people not involved in the rebellion was widespread afterwards as rumors flew around the slave holding communities of the South, possibly 120 innocent people were killed. Nat Turner successfully evaded capture for six weeks.