Prosser Notes

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• Here are the Notes from today's class on Gabriel Prosser
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• A. Background

• 1. born in 1776, on a Tobacco Plantation in Virginia
• 2. became literate, and was trained as a blacksmith
• 3. his master, Thomas Henry Prosser was cruel to his slaves
• 4. was hired out in and around Virginia, where he became familiar with other slaves, free blacks, and some white laborers
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• B. Inspiration
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• 1. news of a slave uprising in Saint Dominique in the Caribbean.
• 2. hatred towards dishonest white merchants
• 3. inspired by the success of free blacks
• 4. belief in the Declaration of Independence and the rights of the common man.
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• C. Prosser's Plan
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• 1. if the slaves rose up against the plantation owners, the poor whites would join the slaves in rebellion. “Death or Liberty”
• 2. seize the capital of Richmond and hold the governor captive before moving to Norfolk and Petersburg.
• 3. Gabriel’s army consisted of recruited slaves, free blacks, white laborers and abolitionists.
• 4. A stockpile of weapons, from swords to scythes and rifles was amassed.
• *This would have been the largest slave revolt in the United States
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• D. Gabriel's Capture
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• 1. Shortly before the planned uprising, the governor of Virginia had heard rumors of a slave rebellion being planned, but dismissed them as being too farfetched.
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• 2. A torrential thunderstorm hit Virginia the day of the planned uprising, forcing Prosser and his followers to delay the rebellion for the next day.
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• 3. One of the Gabriel's supporters confesses to his master of the planned uprising, and the governor is immediately alerted.
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• 4. Virginia offered a full pardon to any slave that came forward to help catch those involved in the planned uprising. Prosser is captured and executed on October 10, 1800.
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