Nat Turners Leadership and Legacy

Annotated Bibliography

Iven Sisomvang
Francisco Cisneros
Somen Atwal
Barnard, Period 2
9/25/2014

Primary Sources
Interviews

Court Cases
Trial of Nat Turner. Southampton County. 5 Nov. 1831. Print.
This is the trial of Nat Turner. It says that he will be taken to jail until the 11th, and then he will
be hung. He is valued at $375. This is valuable because it shows what happened to Nat Turner
after he was captured.

Cartoons/Images
"Horrid Massacre in Virginia." Learn NC. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2014.
This image depicts a summarization of Nat Turners rebellion. It gave us different views on the
rebellion. From the African American view, this image provided pride and emotion to them
because it portrayed a slave standing up for himself. From the white persons view, it was an
image of horror and depicted as a bloody and ruthless rebellion.
Shelton, William H. Discovery of Nat Turner. 1876. Learn NC. Web. 21 Sept. 2014.
This wood engraving, by William Henry Shelton, shows the moment Nat Turner was captured
on October 30, 1931. He went into hiding near the farm he had escaped from after troops
dispersed him and his men. He was later found by a dog and taken in on October 30.
Jim Crow. 1835. N.p. http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/ds.00886/
This is a picture of a fictional character, Jim Crow. He was used as a black stereotype.
This helped me understand how black people were viewed back then.

Books
Brown, William W. The Negro in the American Rebellion: His Herosim and His Fidelity. Boston: Lee
& Sheperd, 1867. Print.
This book included information on Nat Turners Rebellion alongside other information about
the Negros in general during that time and their impact. This source provided a lot of
information not only on Nat Turner but events that he may have had an impact on after his
death.
Goodell, William. "Religion Proscribed." The American Slave Code in Theory and Practice: Its
Distinctive Features Shown by Its Statutes, Judicial Decisions, and Illustrative Facts. New
York: American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, 1853. 331. Print.
This book, written by William Goodell, describes the slave codes implemented throughout
history. In the chapter, Religion Proscribed, it talked about the slave codes implemented in the
southern states after Nat Turners Rebellion.
Harriet Ann Jacobs. "Chapter 12, Fear of Insurrection." Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Boston:
Thayer & Eldridge,

1861. 97-104. Print.

This book is an autobiography and written from a runaway slave. In this book, Harriet Ann
Jacobs tells about her experience as a slave during and after Nat Turners rebellion. The laws
implemented, because of Nat Turners Rebellion, in the southern states affected her life as she
grew up in New York.

Newspapers
"The Banditti." The Richmond Enquirer [Virginia] 30 Aug. 1831: n. pag. PCS SoCal. Africans in
America. Web. 21 Sept. 2014.

This article was published two months before the capture of Nat Turner. In the article, it
described the rebels fighting alongside Nat Turner. This information gave us more perspectives
on blacks.
"General Nat." Nat Turner Finally Captured and Identified! [Washington, DC] 7 Nov. 1831: n. pag.
The Mitchell Archives. Mmitchell. Web. 20 Sept. 2014.
This newspaper confirmed the capture of Nat Turner. In it, it stated that Nat Turner frequently
wished to give himself up but could not muster the courage to do so. This source gave us some
inside thought of Nat Turner during his insurrection.
Author, Unknown. "Reporting on Nat Turner." The North Carolina Star [Raleigh] 1 Sept. 1831: n. pag.
Learn NC. Web. 18 Oct. 2014. <http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-newnation/4543>.
This article was published in the North Carolina Star ten days after Nat Turner began his attacks.
Rumors began to rise about the insurrection spreading and it also gave consequences to slaves
who were held under suspicion. Because of Nat Turner, many slave owners punished their
slaves.
Author, Unknown. "Reporting on Nat Turner." Raleigh Register [Raleigh] 1 Sept. 1831: n. pag. Learn
NC. Web. 18 Sept. 2014. <http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-newnation/4545>.
This report was published on the same day The North Carolina Star published their report about
Nat Turner. The author of this newspaper blamed Nat Turner for inspiring and motivating slaves
to rebel against their owners. Because of Nat Turner leading the rebellion, slaves all over the
south were encouraged to rebel.
Author, Unknown. "Reporting on Nat Turner." Raleigh Register [Raleigh] 15 Sept. 1831: n. pag. Learn
NC. Web. 18 Sept. 2014. <http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-newnation/4544>.
The Raleigh Register published this report two weeks after the previous report published on
September 1, 1831. The article talks about the murders that occurred during those two weeks.
Nat Turner's leadership inspired those slaves to murder those people.

Laws
Black Codes of Mississippi (Mississippi Legislature 1865). Print.
These codes were written after the emancipation proclamation. These help me understand how
Black codes changed throughout the years.
Code Noir (A Paris, Au Palais : Chez Claude Girard, Dans La Grand'Salle, Vis--vis La
Grande'Chambre: Au Nom De Jesus.,cM. 1724). Print.
These are the slave codes that France used when they were in control of what would soon to be
American colonies. They helped me understand what slave codes written by Americans were
based off of.
Emancipation Proclamation (U.S. Legislature 1863). Print.
The Emancipation Proclamation, by Abraham Lincoln, States that whatever states are captured
by the union army, will allow the slaves to be free in said state. This is the presidents response
to slave rebellions in the south.
French, B. F. Historical Collections of Louisiana. New York: William and Putnam, 1851. Print.
These are memoirs that start from the settlement of Louisiana. It helps me understand what was
going on in Louisiana throughout the ages.
Fugitive Slave Act (U.S. Legislation 1850). Print.
These Acts were very strict in comparison to the ones passed in 1793. These were passed after
the Nat Turner Rebellion, and they helped me understand what the nation did to prevent slaves
from escaping and rebelling
Ohio Black Codes (Ohio State Legislature 1804). Print.
These are the rules and regulations for slaves in ohio in 1804. They help me understand what
the slaves could and couldnt do in that time period.

Slavery Code of the District of Columbia (Washington, L. Towers & Co., Printers 1862). Print.
These are the slave codes of Wahington D.C. in 1862.
They helped me understand what rights slaves had and didnt have back then. It shows how the
laws have changed since 1801, before Nat Turners rebellion.

Letters
Floyd, John. Letter to People of Richmond, Virginia. 17 Sept. 1831. MS. Richmond, Virginia.
This is a letter to the people from the governor of Richmond. It is a warrant for the
apprehension of Nat Turner. The reward is $500. It also includes a description. This is useful
because it is the governors response to the rebellion.
Mann, Wlliamson. Letter to Ben Lee. 29 Aug. 1831. MS. Richmond, Virginia.
This letter is about a friend warning a friend about slave riots. This shows that people were
terrified back then after nat turners rebellion.
Sutton, Norborne E. Letter to John Floyd. 21 Sept. 1831. MS. Richmond, Virginia.
This is a citizen showing his concerns to the governor about the slave rebellion. He says that
they should arm a militia in case the slaves attack the town. This is important because it shows
the average white persons reaction to the rebellion.
Lazarus, Rachel. "A Sickening State of Things." Letter to Eliza Mordecai. 9 Oct. 1831. Mordecai
Family Papers. Vol. #847. N.p.: Southern Historical Collection, n.d. N. pag. Learn NC. Web. 18
Oct. 2014. <http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-newnation/5296>.
In this letter, Rachel Lazarus writes to her relative Eliza Mordecai to inform her of the events of
September 1831. She talks about the insurrection and the hysteria it brought and she ends with
the conclusion of white southerners having to live in constant fear of Nat Turner and his
rebellion. Nat Turner leading the rebellion struck fear into the hearts of the southerners.

Poems
Fortune, Thomas T. "Remembering Nat Turner." Cleveland Gazette 22 Nov. 1884: n. pag. Learn NC.
Web. 18 Oct. 2014.
This poem, written by Thomas T. Fortune, was written about Nat Turner. The poem praised Nat
Turner and described him as a leader who led them to fight back. Fortune also described Turner
as a prophet-like figure.
Secondary Sources
Videos
The Legacy Of Nat Turner 1801-1831. California Newsreel, 21 Sept. 2013. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG1GlikT250>.
This video made by California Newsreel informed of Nat Turner in the early 1800's. The video
told us about the motive of the biggest slave rebellion in the United States. The conclusion of
the rebellion was the deaths of most the slaves involved in the rebellion including Nat Turner.
His legacy shocked the states and inspired slaves all around America.
Nat Turner's Rebellion - History.com. YouTube. History.com, 26 Mar. 2013. Web. 26 Sept. 2014.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBH3Xzz3Y3E>.
The history channel summarizes the events chronologically during the rebellion. It gave us a
basic times and actual information of how the rebellion was executed.

Books
Allmendinger, David F. Nat Turner and the Rising in Southampton County. Maryland: Johns Hopkins
UP, 2014. Print.
Author David F. Allmendinger focuses on harder facts than that influenced Nat Turner to
commit to his rebellion. This source is rather useful because it is new and it offers all the
summed up information of the other sources. It goes in dept on the trials of Nat Turner and how

he ran away for a time then was later hung when found, Allmendinger mentions the impact
Turner had on South Hampton. This source can corroborate on a secondary source perspective
with almost every other source.
Baker, Kyle. Nat Turner. New York: Abrams, 2008. Print.
Kyle Baker uses pictures to displays a rather brutal rebellion against southerners. Pictures often
have slaves sticking out looking like the savages. Some call bakers graphic novel: "slave
memory's with out words."
Foster, Sharon E. The Resurrection of Nat Turner, Part 1: The Witnesses: A Novel. New York: Howard,
n.d. Print.
In part one of Sharon Ewells series on Nat Turner she looks to the witnesses of his rebellion.
She takes about those who experienced the nation spotlight on slavery. This also effected the
slaves rights and were further strengthened. This is all concluded with the overall outcome of
Nat Turners rebellion.
Foster, Sharon E. The Resurrection of Nat Turner, Part 2: The Testimony. New York: Howard, 2012.
Print.
Sharon Foster starts off with Nat Turners early life and how he was inspired to eventually lead a
rebellion. She also takes about the southerners affected and how Nat Turner managed to get
support. His preaching played a major factor his she discusses all stemming from his visions
and him being a "savior". It ties all his life together with how the trials went and his execution.
Greenberg, Kenneth S. Nat Turner: A Slave Rebellion in History and Memory. Oxford: Oxford UP,
2003. Print.
Kenneth Greenberg viewed the various murdered by the inspired religious leader Nat Turner.
Instead of facts Greenberg mostly supplies conspiracies about Nat Turner.

Websites

Chandler, D. L. "Nat Turner Led Southampton Slave Rebellion On This Day In 1831." News One RSS.
Newsone, 21 Aug. 2012. Web. 26 Sept. 2014. <http://newsone.com/2031906/nat-turner
rebellion-1831/>.
D.L. Chandler focuses on the preaching on Nat Turner and how he inspired his fellow slaves.
His "duty" to free the slaves and how he ended up killing 60 southerners and sending a uproar in
the south.
"Death or Liberty." Death or Liberty. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2014.
<http://www.lva.virginia.gov/exhibits/Deathliberty/natturner/index.htm>.
The library of Virginia being probably the most reliable source for a secondary source. This
gives us basic information of what was going down that night. The website has a good heading
for the section being "Death or Liberty supports Nat Turners freedom side and not ruthless
madmen side.
"Go Social Studies Go." Go Social Studies Go. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2014.
<http://www.goushistorygo.com/#!nat-turner-/c1qth>.
This is a more educational approach to supplying information about Nat turner. It is basically
there to gave corroboration information. This is information readily available in the other
sources and has been seen before about Nat Turners Rebellion.
Higginson, T. W. "Nat Turner's Insurrection." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, n.d. Web. 26
Sept. 2014. <http://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/issues/1861aug/higginson.htm>.
T. W. Higginson first focuses on Nat Turners impact on the country. His tremors of murdering
southerners sent General Jackson questioning. Higginson informed us how Nat Turner and his
band of slaves met in the forest to plan there eventual rebellion.
Mellard, James M. "Nat Turner, 1800?-1831." Nat Turner, 1800?-1831. Northern Illinois University,
n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2014. <http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/turner/bio.html>.
James Mellard writes how Nat Turner started in his childhood from hearing stories by his

mother. He thought he was

send as a savior and sent to lead them into freeing them Slavery.

James ends with how Nat Turner became a vivid figure in slavery.
"Nat Turner's Rebellion." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2014.
<http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part3/3p1518.html>.
PBS describes Nat Turners actual life as a slave underneath slave holders by what Turner
described. he eventually gets his vision and later imprisoned after the eventual rebellion. PBS
summarizes the confessions of Nat turner and all the slaves executed.
Wood, Maren L., and David Walbert. "9.1 Nat Turner's Rebellion." Nat Turner's Rebellion. North
Carolina Digital History, n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2014. <http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist
newnation/4574>.
As a secondary source Maren Wood and David Walbert summarized how Nat Turner thought he
was "chosen" to lead a rebellion to free slaves from white tyranny. It gave specific dates when
Nat Turner was given "signs" to start murdering the southerners.
Vox, Lisa. "Why Nat Turner's Rebellion Made White Southerners Especially Fearful." About. N.p., n.d.
Web. 25 Sept. 2014. <http://afroamhistory.about.com/od/slavery/a/Nat-Turners-Rebellion.htm>.
Lisa Vox asks questions and states basic facts in sub categories, Nat Turner the prophet, the
rebellion, and the aftermath of the rebellion.
"Nat Turner, Religious Leader and a Revolutionary." Welcome To The Black Box, Personal Narratives
in High Definition. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.aaregistry.org/historic_events/view/nat-turner-religious-leader-and-revolutionary>.
This is a short biography of Nat Turner's life that helps us understand why he did what he did.
He was a very religious man, and believed he had divine right to do what he did.

Pictures

Baker, Kyle. "Nat Turner." From the Confessions of Nat Turner. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.comicvine.com/nat-turner-nat-turner/4000-253887/user-reviews/2200-14396>.
This print of Nat Turner depicts him as a large, axe-wielding, manic. He is beheading a small
white boy. This shows how white southerners viewed Nat Turner after his rebellion in Virginia.
This is important because it affected how white people would view rebellious slaves, and it
caused them to pass more strict laws, limiting even moreso the little freedom slaves had.
Baker, Kyle. Nat Turner. 2007. N.p.
This drawing shows Nat Turner leading an army of slaves into battle. He appears to be a leader
and a hero in this picture, as he is the one in front leading the charge. This is relevant to the
theme because it shows how Nat Turner was a leader.