Gabriel Prosser, an enslaved blacksmith in Richmond, Virginia, sought to lead a significant slave uprising in the summer of 1800, inspired by the recent revolutions across the globe, particularly the Haitian Revolution. He communicated with fellow enslaved individuals, enlisting their support to rebel against their oppressors and gain freedom. Prosser’s plans included the recruitment of hundreds of enslaved men and women, aimed at seizing control of the city and disrupting the slaveholding class's authority. However, the intricacies of planning posed considerable risks, and Prosser decided to postpone the uprising, hoping to gather more supporters and secure better conditions for the revolt.Unfortunately for Prosser, his plans fell apart due to betrayal from within. A nervous enslaved man informed local whites about the impending rebellion, prompting immediate action from authorities. Gabriel was arrested, and his allies were apprehended as well. His execution and the subsequent trials created significant fear among both the enslaved community and white slaveholders across the South, establishing a precedent for how slave rebellions would be handled and leading to more stringent slave codes in Virginia and beyond, as plantation owners sought to protect their interests in the wake of Prosser's foiled rebellion.