Slave Rebellion and Resistance essays

Slave Rebellion and Resistance essays Throughout the Southern States where slavery was rampant slaves devised many different methods of resisting everyday hardships. Most slaves used peaceful methods of resistance. These methods however, were ineffective in helping slaves claim any rights. Many times the abuse and hopelessness got so severe that slaves took matters into their own hands and physically tried to claim their rights in the form of violent revolts such as Nat Turners Rebellion. Although, these events stand out in history, they were actually quite rare. For the most part slaves did not confront their masters up front but rebelled in hidden ways. They used peaceful methods to cope with their situations such as developing their own culture complete with a distinct religion and narratives to provide morality and hope. Out in the fields they quietly fought back by working slowly, stealing merchandise, feigning illness, or breaking tools. Most resistance occurred in ways where the slaves would peacefully prevent the master from making a full profit. An eruption of violence on behalf of the slaves was uncommon. The few times that it did occur, it was due to personal problems between the slaves and their owners (Dillon 201). What made Nat Turners Rebellion so unique was the violent nature of it. Nat believed he was a Christ-like figure with a message from God to free blacks from their white masters. He believed he could do so by taking his band of followers and going from place to place killing all whites and recruiting more black followers until they had conquered the land (Wilson 196). It was incredibly rare to see an act of such great violence carried out by slaves against the white slave-owning class. Such revolts were uncommon because slaves usually used other methods of resistance, but also because many times the plans were uncovered and the slaves were punished before they had a chance to carry them out. Whites lived in constant fear of a sla...