Gabriel's Rebellion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gabriel's Rebellion |
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| Part of the Slave Revolts in North America | |||
| Date | August 30, 1800 | ||
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| Goals | Emancipation | ||
| Resulted in | Discovered, suppressed | ||
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Gabriel's Rebellion was a big plan for enslaved people to fight for their freedom. It was organized near Richmond, Virginia, in the summer of 1800. But the plan was found out before it could even start. The leader, an enslaved blacksmith named Gabriel, and 25 of his followers were put to death.
Even though the rebellion was stopped, it was very important. It showed how much enslaved people wanted to be free. It also made slave owners very scared.
After the plan was discovered, Virginia and other states made new laws. These laws made life much harder for both enslaved and free Black people. The laws stopped them from getting an education, meeting in groups, or getting certain jobs. This was done to try and prevent any future rebellions.
Contents
Who Was Gabriel?
Gabriel was an enslaved African-American man. He was born around 1776 on a tobacco farm called Brookfield in Henrico County, Virginia. He and his brothers, Solomon and Martin, were owned by a man named Thomas Prosser.
Gabriel was able to read and write. This was very unusual at the time. Only about 5% of enslaved people were allowed to learn these skills.
A Skilled Leader
Gabriel was trained as a blacksmith and a carpenter. His owner would "hire him out" to work in Richmond. This meant Gabriel could travel around the city for different jobs. He got to keep a small part of the money he earned. But most of it went to the person who enslaved him.
People described Gabriel as tall, strong, and smart. A newspaper at the time called him "a fellow of great courage and intellect." Both Black and white people saw him as a natural leader.
In 1799, Gabriel got into a fight with a white man. It was a serious crime for an enslaved person to fight a white person. He could have been put to death. Instead, he was jailed for a month. His thumb was also branded, which means it was marked with a hot iron. This event might have made him even more determined to fight against slavery.
Planning the Rebellion
In the late 1700s, ideas about freedom from the American Revolution were still very popular. Gabriel was inspired by these ideas. He also saw that more and more free Black people lived in Virginia. This was partly because religious groups like the Quakers were against slavery.
The successful Haitian Revolution also inspired many people in America. In Haiti, enslaved people fought for and won their freedom.
The Plan for Freedom
During the spring and summer of 1800, Gabriel started to plan a revolt. He wanted to end slavery in Virginia. He planned with hundreds of other enslaved people. They came from several counties and cities, including Richmond, Norfolk, and Petersburg.
As a blacksmith, Gabriel and his followers secretly made weapons. They turned farm tools like scythes into swords. They also made musket balls and spears. Their plan was to march on Richmond. They wanted to capture weapons from the state armory. They also planned to take the governor, James Monroe, hostage. They hoped to talk with him to get freedom for all enslaved people in Virginia.
Gabriel's plan was inspired by Patrick Henry's famous speech, "Give me liberty or give me death!" Gabriel wanted to write "death or liberty" on a silk flag for the rebellion.
How the Rebellion Was Stopped
The attack was planned for August 30, 1800. On that day, a huge thunderstorm hit the area. It flooded roads and made a surprise attack impossible.
More importantly, two enslaved men told their owner, Mosby Sheppard, about the plan. Sheppard quickly warned Governor Monroe. The governor called out the state militia. They started arresting anyone they thought was part of the plot.
Gabriel managed to escape and hide in Norfolk. But another enslaved man told where he was, and Gabriel was captured. He was brought back to Richmond for trial. Gabriel refused to give any information about the plan or his followers.
The Aftermath
The trials were held without a jury. Based on what others said, Gabriel, his two brothers, and 23 other men were found guilty. They were put to death. In total, about 70 men were arrested. Some were sold to owners outside of Virginia. Some were forgiven, and others were found not guilty.
The men who were put to death faced their fate bravely. One man reportedly said, "I have nothing more to offer than what General Washington would have had to offer, had he been taken by the British and put to trial."
The Impact of the Rebellion
News of the planned rebellion spread across the country. It made white southerners very afraid of other slave revolts.
Because of this, the Virginia government passed strict new laws.
- In 1802, a law made it illegal for any Black person, free or enslaved, to pilot a boat.
- In 1804, they were not allowed to meet in groups after work or on Sundays.
- In 1808, a new law said that newly freed Black people had to leave Virginia within a year. If they didn't, they risked being enslaved again.
These laws made it much harder for Black people to talk to each other, travel, or organize. This was exactly what the government wanted.
Legacy and Honors
Even though it failed, Gabriel's Rebellion is remembered as a brave fight for freedom.
- In 2002, the City of Richmond called Gabriel a "patriot and freedom fighter."
- A historical marker was placed near where Gabriel is thought to have been put to death.
- On August 30, 2007, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine gave an informal pardon to Gabriel and his followers. Kaine said that Gabriel's cause was "his devotion to the ideals of the American revolution—it was worth risking death to secure liberty."
Gabriel's story shows that enslaved people were not just victims. They actively fought against slavery and for the ideas of freedom and equality.
Popular Culture
- Arna Bontemps wrote Black Thunder (1936), a novel based on Gabriel's Rebellion.
- Gigi Amateau wrote Come August, Come Freedom: The Bellows, The Gallows, and The Black General Gabriel (2012), a historical fiction novel.
- In Roots, Alex Haley's historical novel, the characters hear about the rebellion.
- The musical "Gabriel, the Musical" was performed in Richmond, Virginia, in 2022. It tells a story about Gabriel's plan and what happened afterward.
Songs
- Tim Barry, a singer from Richmond, wrote "Prosser's Gabriel." It tells the story of Gabriel's life and the attempted revolution.
- Gabriel is mentioned in Public Enemy's song "Prophets of Rage."
See also
In Spanish: Gabriel Prosser para niños
- Denmark Vesey
- History of slavery in Virginia
- List of enslaved people
- Nat Turner
- Slavery in the United States
