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Perhaps this is the best essay we have received.
Your have a unique focus on the life of Nat Turner. You present a memorable
portrait.
Obviously, the essay reflects exceptional research. The topic
is dealt with in depth. Content is well-defined. Examples are viable,
exact, understandable, and memorable.
The image of Turner as a Moses figure looking
for signs from God is particularly memorable. Supporting evidence
shows good synthesis of ideas. For example, you blend in your analysis of
Turner's rebellion education, Christianity and freedom.
The ability to read allowed Turner to relate
to the Moses, which then provided a working model for the pursuit of freedom.
The material is well documented, paraphrased,
and assimilated. You truly "own" the topic.
There is a thesis that shows creative
thinking which requires synthesis and analysis. The order of evidence goes
beyond the merely chronological to include Turner's spiritual evolution
and thus contributes to impact of paper. There is an effective conclusion.
Most ideas are stated in a variety of sentence structures, including
some of the more sophisticated. Vocabulary is mature and outstanding. Transitions between ideas are effective.
Well done! (Ryan)
I particularly enjoyed how you worked in your quotes with your referencing.
(Dohle)
Teachers Evaluation
Student #1
A = "Impressive" |
"Nat Turner: Black Prophet for Freedom"
Student #1
Nat Turner's belief that he was a mystic, born for some great purpose; a
spiritual savior, chosen to lead Black slaves to freedom, justified his
bloody rebellion against slave owners in Virginia. His actions did not
so much spring from the fact that members of his family had been beaten,
separated or sold, but rather from his own deep sense of freedom spoken
in the Bible. From the time Nat Turner was four-years-old, he had been recognized
as intelligent, able to understand beyond his years. He continued to search
for religious truth and began to have visions or signs of being called by
God. By the time Nat Turner reached manhood, the path his life would take
was clear; his destiny would be to bring his fellow slaves out of bondage.
Nat Turner was born to a life of slavery in Southampton County, Virginia,
in 1800. The state of Virginia had some diverse reactions toward slavery.
Stephen B. Oates writes in his article "Children of Darkness"
that "By southern white standards, enlightened benevolence did exist
in Southampton County- and it existed in the rest of the state, too"
(Oates, "Children" 42). There were some schools established
for slave children, and religious meetings were openly allowed. Governor
John Floyd was against the institution of slavery. The Fires of Jubilee,
a book describing Turner's rebellion, explains his feelings on the subject.
"He wanted slavery to be gradually abolished in Virginia and all the
blacks colonized somewhere else, leaving the Old Dominion an unadulterated
white man's paradise" (Oates, Fires 64). The unrest among slaves in
Virginia was more evident than in the deep South because they had been given
a small taste of freedom through activities like school and religion, but
no sign that slavery would be abolished appeared. Instead, the economy of
Virginia was the most important discussion in every session of the legislature.
According to Boorstin and Kelley's History of the United States, "Blacks
in some southern states outnumbered the whites, and there was no way for
state leaders to handle this situation except by keeping the blacks in slavery"
(Boorstin and Kelley 194). Nat Turner would grow up with a sense of frustration,
not being able to see the end to the terrible injustice of slavery.
The fact that young Nat Turner was not like other
young slaves was fostered by his parents. The family lived and
worked on the Turner farm. Slaves owned by the Turners had to work hard
because the farm was not one of the big, wealthy plantations, and some years
did not show much profit for the land owner. According to Terry Bisson's
book on Nat Turner, Nat's family, especially his mother and grandmother,
were determined to keep his mind from being enslaved
whether or not he was physically a slave. (Bisson 16). They
saw to it that young Nat had time to read the Bible and encouraged him in
his ambitions. They often examined his body to see if a mark or sign could
be found which would single him out as a prophet.
Nat Turner's father ran away from the farm when Nat was nine, an event
which made a big impression on the young slave. This example of courage
stayed with Nat, and made his determination to help his people even stronger.
He was beginning to realize that, like his father's dream, freedom would
have to be his ultimate goal. He even ran away from the Turner farm and
was not caught. The slaves celebrated for him as their hope for freedom.
But after two weeks of hiding, Nat returned to the Turner farm. Nat Turner
believed that he was born to greatness, and he was beginning to understand
what had to be done to fulfill his vision. By the time he was twenty years
old, the role of prophet was clear. Bisson's book describes Turner's vision
of the spirit. "Nat later wrote in his Confessions
that while he was in hiding, "the Spirit"
had appeared and chastised him for having his wishes directed to the things
of this world and not to the kingdom of heaven (Bisson 47). His destiny
was not his own freedom, but the freedom of his people.
Religion was a big part of every slave's life,
and Nat Turner began to develop a reputation as a Baptist preacher. It is
important to note, however, that even though he was a Christian, he "took
less to the New Testament and forgiveness and more to the stern righteousness,
blood, and thunder of the Old Testament" (Bisson 38). Nat
Turner could identify with Moses, the prophet, who listened to God speak
of the Egyptians, "I have witnessed the affliction of my people in
Egypt and have heard their cry of complaint against their slave drivers..."
(New American Bible, Exodus 3:4). Turner believed he was called to lead
the black enslaved people to freedom. Like Moses, Nat Turner searched for
signs from God. Moses' staff became a serpent, and Turner heard voices in
the darkened sky. It was in the Old Testament that Turner could find justification
for his plans to seek revenge on the slave masters in Virginia. There was
also some witchcraft mixed into the slaves' religious beliefs, and the old
African traditions of gods and rituals had an influence on Turner's preaching.
He could stir up feelings of rebellion within a group of slaves while actually
preaching his religion. "Christianity and
freedom became tied together in his mind" (Bisson 38).
In 1822 Nat Turner was moved from the Turner farm to a farm owned by Thomas
Moore. He was separated from his wife and children but was grateful that
they were bought by a master in a nearby farm. His mother remained on the
Turner place to care for the elderly Mrs. Turner. On the Moore farm, Nat
continued his preaching and, at the same time, began to plan his rebellion.
Many times Turner claimed he saw visions of rebellion such as figures drawn
in blood on the leaves in the field. He said that the blood represented
"the Blood of the Savior." Herbert Aptheker in his book on the
American slave gives an account in the field when Turner heard a loud noise
in the heavens, and the Spirit instantly appeared and said the Serpent was
loosened and Turner should take it upon himself to fight against the Serpent
for the time had come that the first should be last and the last should
be first (Aptheker 296).
Nat Turner became convinced that the day of the rebellion would be soon.
Economic conditions in Virginia also influenced Turner and his followers.
The sale of cotton was down, forcing masters of the farms to work their
slaves harder and harder. Talk of slave unrest sent a fear through Southampton
and other parts of Virginia; militia were armed and on the look-out for
any sign of rebellious blacks. Stephen Oates explains that Southern whites
tried to tell themselves that nothing was wrong and went about their business.
Even though there had been small insurrections in the past, they reasoned,
the militia had taken care of them. There was nothing to worry about. (Oates,
Fires 49). Meanwhile, Nat Turner was hours away
from making his move.
After witnessing a solar eclipse in February 1831, Turner believed it was
the long awaited sign. He has been quoted to have said at the time of the
eclipse, "As the black spot passed over the sun, so should the blacks
pass over the earth" (Oates, "Children" 45). All of the which
craft, the Old Testament revenge, and the hatred Turner felt toward slavery
came together in the decision made by Nat Turner and a group of slaves one
dark night. The rebellion was planned for July 4, but had to be postponed
because Turner became sick. This frustrated some slaves because they saw
it as a sign of weakness, so Turner again made plans. The date was August
21, 1831. He met in secret with six followers, and they all decided that
no whites should be spared.
Deep in the woods, Nat Turner and his men vowed that they would gain their
freedom or die in the attempt. Turner appeared with the plan that they would
rise that night and "kill all the white people." The revolt was
to be so swift and terrifying that the whites would be too frightened to
fight back. With only seven men to begin the revolt, Turner intended that
it happen completely without warning. Nat Turner had lived his life for
this moment, and there was no turning back from his vision of freedom. He
saw the rebellion as his holy war, his prophecy, and the fulfillment of
his promise to his people.
Nat Turner's rebellion was a bloody revenge on white masters and their families.
The Turner farm was the first struck by the rebel slaves. The slaves wanted
Turner, the prophet, to kill first, but he could not. Stephen Oates wrote
that "as God's prophet, Turner preferred to let Will and the other
lieutenants do the slaughtering" (Oates, "Children" 46).
The rebels took farm after farm, all by surprise. To keep their revolt from
arousing the countryside, no firearms were used, instead all of their victims
were stabbed or decapitated. In the two day rampage, sixty white men, women
and children were killed.
Turner's vision included the capture of the city of Jerusalem. It was fitting
that his last stand would be made in a place named after the "holy
city". The column of rebel slaves were attacked on all sides by militia
and driven back to the woods. Word of the rebellion had spread and the slaves
who were not killed hid in fear. Nat Turner was found several weeks later
hiding in the woods next to the Turner farm. He was tried, found guilty
and hung.
Nat Turner justified his bloody rebellion against whites as the fulfillment
of a prophecy. After he was put in prison, Turner gave his written Confessions.
When asked if he thought his mission was a mistake, Turner answered, "Was
not Christ crucified? And by signs in the heavens that it would make known
to me when I should commence the great work" (Turner, Confessions 3).
Nat Turner had to kill the serpent, to strike out against slavery and free
his people. It was the fulfillment of his prophecy.
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