Name: ____________________________
Due Date: Friday 2/6/15
Social Studies 7/PD: _____
HW – Gabriel’s Rebellion
Gabriel Prosser’s Rebellion
Background
As the eighteenth century (1700’s) came to a close and the nineteenth century (1800’s) began;
slavery seemed to be slowly fading away – especially in upper Southern States such as Virginia. Many
slave owners were allowing slaves to buy their own freedom or were making certain that their slaves were
freed after they died (such as George Washington). The spirit of the American Revolution and the words of
the Declaration of Independence motivated some slave owners. Many others believed that there was no
way to continue to make profits (even with slave labor) and that slavery was a dying practice.
Slaves themselves overheard what their owners and other white Americans were talking about.
Regardless of the type of treatment slaves received from their owners, all slaves dreamed of freedom. A
few bold slaves did more than dream – they acted. Encouraged by the talk of liberty and equality that was
common after the Revolutionary War; a slave named Gabriel Prosser decided to lead a bold slave rebellion
in 1800. Sadly, Gabriel’s Rebellion failed to win freedom for slaves and it put an end to talk of freeing
slaves in Virginia and the rest of the Southern States.
Passage
Gabriel was a 24-year-old slave who was owned by a wealthy landowner named Henry Prosser in
Northern Virginia. As a skilled blacksmith, Gabriel was often hired out to other plantations and to wealthy
people in nearby towns and cities. As Gabriel went from plantation to plantation, he heard about a slave
rebellion on the island of Haiti that had won freedom for all of the slaves in that land. He also met with
French immigrants who spoke to him about the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution.
Gabriel was deeply religious and had always been inspired of the story of Moses leading thousands
of slaves out of Egypt in ancient times. Like Moses, Gabriel wanted to lead his people (fellow slaves) to
freedom and create a new homeland for them by winning control over a part of Virginia. In 1800, Gabriel
acted on his dreams by convincing many slaves to join in his plans. He was able to recruit slaves and
spread word of his plans as he traveled from place to place and by passing information to riverboat
operators (often slaves) working between plantations and the City of Richmond.
Gabriel soon had hundreds of followers and he encouraged them to arm themselves by stealing
axes, shovels, knives, and any other weapons that they could find, make, or steal. A gathering place was
selected just outside of Richmond and word was spread to gather there on the night of August 1, 1800. The
plan was to attack the city, capture its arsenal, hold the Governor of Virginia hostage (James Madison), and
start a huge slave rebellion.
Unknown to Gabriel, however, several slaves who were worried about their owners’ safety had told
authorities about the rebellion. Governor Madison had 600 soldiers attack the few slaves that reached the
gathering spot (a terrible storm prevented many from reaching the appointed place). The slaves were
scattered and the storm prevented any chance of regrouping. Many of the slaves were captured. Gabriel
and 34 of his closest followers were put on trial, found guilty, and hanged in front of their families and
friends. The families were then sold to plantations in the Deep South or to other nations. One slave
(legend says that it was Gabriel himself) said the following words before being hanged: “I have ventured
my life in endeavoring to obtain the liberty of my countrymen.”
Gabriel’s Rebellion
Name: ___________________________________
1.
PD: _____
What motivated some slave owners to free their slaves in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s?
(Give at least two examples in your answer (there are actually three in the reading).
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B. ___________________________________________________________________________________
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2.
What was the “sad” result of Gabriel’s Rebellion (see background)?
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3.
Which events and stories inspired Gabriel to start a slave rebellion (more than one example)?
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4.
Describe Gabriel’s plan to attack Richmond. What were the slaves going to do when they
captured the city?
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5.
What caused Gabriel’s Rebellion to fail?
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