Fires of Jubilee- Nat Turner’s Fierce Rebellion

August 21, 1861 proved to be a daylight of sorrow, pain and lessons learned. The Fires of Jubilee is a diachronic account of the plaints that led to the bloodiest slave confusion in southern history. Nat turner is painted as a fairly intelligent and prophetic slave who believed he was chosen to lighten his muckle from their slave bondage. Nats riot last almost two full days before cosmos halted by militia men from the arouse of North Carolina, leaving upwards of 50 whites murdered in the aftermath. Although it took whatso constantly time to fully accomplish, the rebellion of Nat Turner ultimately led to the outlet of the slaves some years later.The history of the south and slaves was forever changed by the make upts of the rebellion. Nat Turners name will forever be a emblem of black terror and violet retri thoion and at the same time, a legendary black hero. In the Old South, it was understood that Christianity was non provided used to save heathen souls, but also to keep the slaves moderate and kept them from striking back against their master. (Page 14) Southern white slave owners would strip and choose only certain rule book lessons for the slaves to be shown.The owners felt that by restricting the knowledge of the slaves, they would be able to keep them inhibited. Words of the bible were twisted to mean different things to the slave population. slaves were told that if they did non obey their masters and perform their exclusivelyotted tasks that God would burn them in the flames of an eternal hell. To be good children of God the slaves were to accept their lot, be meek and faithful, patient and submissive, flush if their masters were cruel. Slaves were taught to leave it to God to punish.And if they be move overd great would be their reward in heaven. Page 14) Nat Turner was a precise special slave. From a very young age it was obvious that Nat was intelligent and an new(prenominal)(prenominal)s well-nigh him knew it. People aro und Nat al tracks thought he would grow up to be a prophet. He was like a powerful angel whose wings were nailed to the floor. (Page 69) As Nat grew older he also grew in his faith, he believed himself to be in full favor of God. He prayed daily and spent time in devotion and fasting to his heavenly father. In an attempt to gain more following Nat performed a baptism in the river of a white human race.The result was not as he hoped, however it only helped to push him closer to his God. Nat began having romances for a time before the rebellion came into full plan. His visions were often bloody and violent, being described as blacks and whites fighting in battled under a change sky while thunder rolled in the heavens. Rivers of blood flowed free about and voices spoke from heaven saying Such is your luck, such you are called to conceive, and let it come rough or smooth, you must surely stripped-down it. Nat was captivated by these visions and prayed fervently for a revelatio n.After some time had passed, the musical note called out to Nat from the heavens saying Behold me as I base in the heavens. Nat looked up and saw the saviors hands stretched forth from east to west, even as they were on the cross on Calvary for the redemption of sinners. (Page 36) Slave owners and others around town either passed Nat off as crazy or simply did not bother to believe him be realize he was not an ordain minister. In his own way, Nat was one of the most renowned prophets of his day. He was revere and trusted by some(prenominal) fellow slaves.Nat also claimed to receive powers of meliorate and such. Several men became close confidents of Nat. He had full trust and authority in his lieutenants as he called them. Four men Hark Travis, Nelson Williams, tinkers dam Reese and Sam Edwards were Nats leading men in the rebellion. They were responsible for numerous things but spent a lot of time spreading discontentment within the slave communities keeping them read y and on edge at any moment for the rebellion to begin. Nats lieutenants did not know a specific plan he was quite secretive about the dates and lucubrate surrounding the rebellion.One of Nats visions gave him the final push he unavoidable to contain the plan into full swing. At one point, a black injury appeared on the surface of the sun, for Nat this symbolized a black hand oer the sun. This was his feature that God wishinged him to rise up against his white enemies. Jehovah was authoritative Nat to rise and move. Nats trusted generals stayed by his side as this anarchy happened without warning. The violence raged on for more than twenty four hours. Many were left(a) dead and dismembered in the aftermath.The consequences of the rebellion were very well know in the state and county. Immediate consequences were obviously the lost lives of the fifty-something whites. Many other slaves lost their lives as the militia began to fight and shut down Nats group. The good county and state was on alert for any suspicious activity advent from any slaves. There was no way to tell if this was just the number 1 or the ending. Rumors spread quickly throughout the state that Nats rebellion was only the beginning and that many other slaves outside of his county were planning to rebuff as well.These rumors proved to not be true, but because the residents of the state were on high alert, many innocent, free blacks and slaves were killed simply for being suspicious. There were trials and hangings publicly in Virginia and North Carolina. The lives lost due to this rebellion went far beyond the men and women killed on the first two days by Nat and his crew. in the end abolitionists were diabolic for the rebellion because of their provocative material on flyers and in articles that were in circulation. Many whites believed that the reason for Nats rebellion was because of said flyers.No evidence has ever been found showing knowledge of the flyers being associated wi th Nat. It has come to be known that the true reason is because of Nats visions and callings from God however whites did not want to believe that their God would allow this to happen. On a nationwide train the consequences began to affect many in the north as well. Abolitionists were to blame for all of these problems according to southern whites. Some of the more famous ones such as William Lloyd Garrison and Issac Knapp boldly stated that slaves should be freed immediately.They were believers that Negros deserved spiritedness, liberty and the interestingness of happiness just like white people. (Page 129) Many southerners did not arrive at hold with the abolitionists standings on slaveholding, in fact a vigilance association in South Carolina offered a $1,500 reward for any agitator convicted of distributing any of the abolitionist flyers or documents. No matter what anyone said, Southerners became progressively anxious after the rebellion looking for someone to blame for N ats stand other than themselves. Things became increasingly hostile towards abolitionists in the weeks and months after Nats revolt.Many in the south blamed the Yankees and made it difficult for people to express freedom of speech. (Page 135) Liberation of the slaves take care to be the only way to guarantee no further uprisings or revolts from the slaves but it was not easy to convince all of the whites of that. After all, they salve had much work to be done on their farms and other items needed tending to on their plantations. Many southerners increasingly proclaimed that slavery was an insane asylum and a positive and unequivocal good, condoned by the bible and ordained by God from the beginning of time. Page 143)A senator from Washington, John C. Calhoun made several statements on the subject of slavery. He went on to justify slavery on historical grounds insisting that there never has yet existed a flush(p) and civilized society in which one portion of the community did not , in point of fact, live on the labor of the other. (Page 143) There were many other reasons for not immediately freeing the slaves, on a nationwide level, many in the north were afraid that a radical freeing would cause a rush of newly free African Americans to rush into Union states.Much research and planning was put into the writing of The Fires of Jubilee. Reading the book it is great(p) to get a feel for exactly what Stephen B. Oates feelings are on slavery and the rebellion. This book has forever changed my opinion on slavery. I have canvass about slavery as much as any other college student that is not a history major. Before reading this book, I knew and understood basic events leading up to the emancipation proclamation. This story seems so personal. You really get to know Nat on a personal level.As a Christian myself, I can relate with Nat on wanting to be close to God. I have never had a prophetic vision but I believe it when others tell me of their experiences. I do not feel Nat was right by revolting the way he did but then again, I have never been in his shoes being suppressed by others around me. Nat was a very strong, god fearing man and I believe he felt his revolt was the only way to bring attention to the problem of slavery. Stephen B. Oates does a wonderful job with his descriptions in the novel.The work is very vivid and I can almost see the pictures in my head playing out like a movie, particularly when Nats visions are described. I especially liked the ending chapter in the book when Stephen discusses his trip to the 1973 version of Southampton County. Reading his details makes me want to take a road trip just to see the things he seen for myself. I am not sure what would still be standing over 40 years after this book was written but it seems to be worth the trip. This book has given me a new opinion on slavery and how it affected the world that we live in today.I was not expecting to have such a different view on slavery and oppr essiveness at the beginning of this reading assignment. The story was quite touching even though there were parts that could have been avoided. Nat Turner will be a name I never forget when it comes to slavery. We still have lasting affects in todays society of slavery. Even though most of the modern day African Americans that exist in my life did not have to deal with slavery, I can understand how they may still be affected by the idea of it.