This Day in History:, Nat Turner Launches Massive <br />Slave Revolt in Virginia.<br />August 21, 1831.<br />The insurrection occurred in <br />Southhampton County, Virginia. It was the <br />largest revolt of enslaved people in U.S. history.<br />Enslaved himself, Turner was educated and a minister. <br />He believed he had been called by God <br />to help others break the bonds of their enslavement.<br />The revolt began with the killings of <br />Turners enslaver, Joseph Travis, and his family.<br />The initial group of seven revolters rallied to nearly <br />a hundred, as Turner set off towards Jerusalem, VA. <br />The plan was to capture an arsenal there, <br />and then escape into the surrounding swamp. .<br />Before the state militia of 3,000 captured <br />and killed almost all of the insurrectionists, <br />60 people were killed in the revolt.<br />Turner eluded capture until October. <br />He was tried and hanged. The revolt led to <br />unknown numbers of lynchings, and well as legislation <br />prohibiting the education and assembly of the enslaved
