In August of 1831, Nat Turner, an enslaved man and preacher, orchestrated a significant rebellion in Southampton County, Virginia. Having gained a reputation for his religious fervor and literacy, Turner believed he was divinely chosen to lead a revolt against the institution of slavery. He gathered a group of around 70 enslaved and free black men, and under the cover of darkness on August 21, they began their insurrection. Their attacks initially targeted white families, resulting in the deaths of approximately 60 white individuals. Following the violence, news of the uprising spread rapidly, instilling fear throughout the region. The insurrection quickly elicited a brutal response from local militias and vigilante groups, who sought to quell the rebellion. They hunted down Turner and his followers, often executing them without trial. By the time the rebellion was fully suppressed, hundreds of black individuals had been killed, either in the fighting or in the aftermath. Turner was eventually captured several weeks after the rebellion, and he was tried and hanged. The aftermath of Turner's uprising had profound implications for the institution of slavery in the South, leading to heightened restrictions and a more repressive atmosphere toward enslaved people. Turner’s rebellion became a turning point in the conversation about slavery in the United States, forcing society to confront the moral implications and the potential for violent resistance from the enslaved. The event paved the way for increased abolitionist sentiment in the North and heightened paranoia in the South, shaping the future trajectory of the nation's struggle over slavery.