Slavery in America

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Prosser, Turner, and Vesey Slave Rebellions

Web site Evaluators
Paul Adams - Topeka High School, Kansas
Shelly Wilfong - Goshen High School, Indiana
Barbara Wood - Norwich Free Academy, Connecticut

Web site Reviewer and Compiler
Barbara Bureker - Evergreen Internet Academy, Washington

Site Ratings

1 = Poor

2 = Fair

3 = Good

4 = Excellent

PBS Africans in America: Gabriel's Conspiracy
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part3/3p1576.html
This PBS site, part of the Africans in America website, gives a "detailed account of the life and attempted slave revolt planned by Gabriel Prosser." The narrative is "easy to read" and would be "appropriate for students in grades 5 through 12. Although it is fairly short, it is "packed with information about his experience." Details are given as to "why some of the plotters were executed and why some weren't," as well as on the different groups involved in the plot and their motives. The background information presented "would allow students to gain an understanding of the motivations and early life experiences of Prosser" which may not be seen in other sites. The site "does not offer much visual appeal", but does have links to other Africans in America sites, as well as to a number of primary source documents. The teacher guides included are primarily designed to be used with the actual Africans in America TV or video program, but some ideas could be modified if the program itself isn't used.
Overall Rating: 4

PBS Africans in America: Nat Turner's Rebellion
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part3/3p1518.html
This PBS Africans in America resource provides a "detailed secondary account of the Nat Turner rebellion." Information about Turner's early life as well as the motivations behind his leading the rebellion is presented. Links lead to various primary source documents, including images of Turner preaching, the "Confessions of Nat Turner," and others. This site "would be a great starting point for both teachers and students to begin to understand Turner and the events surrounding the rebellion." The text is written at a level "appropriate for both middle and high school students."
Overall Rating: 4

Gabriel Prosser: Slave Revolt Leader
http://www.africanamericans.com/GabrielProsser.htm
This site presents an informative and detailed account of the planned insurrection by Gabriel Prosser. The text presents an account from the book American Negro Slave Revolts by Herbert Aptheker, as well as "many primary source quotes from the time." These include "first hand accounts of rebellion plans for attack and why attack plans weren't carried out," and concerns of Governor James Monroe in executing the slaves involved. The site is "straightforward and easy to understand." It is "brief and to the point," and would be "ideal for use by students to gain an understanding of this event as well as the atmosphere regarding slavery in the nation at the time." It does "not offer much background on the life of Prosser prior to the revolt," however. Links lead to other Africanamerican.com sites.
Overall Rating: 3

Slave Resistance and Rebellion Homepage: Nat Turner
http://www.millersv.edu/~tweis/fall98/272/turner/Nat_Turner.html
This is a college student project Nat Turner. It was created in 1998 and has not been updated since. According to the site's introduction, it was designed to be used with primary documents found on PBS' Africans in America site. It "provides a detailed chronology of events leading up to and following the Nat Turner rebellion," presented in a way that would be "engaging and accessible to middle school and high school students." Narratives and pictures add to the student appeal. The site "also contains a little information on a lesser known rebellion called the Christiana Riot." Although a number of links are provided, many of them are broken. Ten questions are included that "could be used by teachers and students to review the content of the site."
Overall Rating: 3

PBS Africans in America: The Vesey Conspiracy
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part3/3p2976.html
This PBS Africans in America site gives a brief account of the Denmark Vesey rebellion and subsequent trial. Several links lead to primary source documents, including a transcription of the Vesey trial as well as confessions by co-conspirators. The PBS text is written at a level that is accessible by middle and high school students; the primary source documents are more challenging, but would be valuable for high school students. This site proves "excellent background information for both teachers and students."
Overall Rating: 3

Atlantic Monthly: Denmark Vesey by Thomas Wentworth Higginson
http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/1861jun/higgin.htm
This is a digital version of an article published in the Atlantic Monthly in June of 1861. The events leading up to the Denmark Vesey Rebellion are described , as well as the subsequent trial of Vesey. The article is "very detailed," with "excellent descriptions of the events that led to the discovery of the plot, the actions taken on the part of the authorities before the planned rebellion, during the trail and afterward and the view points of many whites on all sides of the event." It is an "excellent primary source account," written from an abolitionist point of view. Its weaknesses are "the extreme length and complexity of language;" students "may struggle to understand some parts." Sections may be more useful with students than the entire article. There are no visuals or useful links on this site, but as a resource could be valuable for teachers of High School US History and American Literature classes.
Overall Rating: 2