Gabriel's Rebellion

and those who inspired it

What do you know about this?

Crispus Attucks

Born into slavery to an African father and Native American mother in Massachusetts.

When he escaped, his owner placed an ad in the paper, hoping for his capture and return.

"A Mulatto fellow,
about 27 Years of Age, named Crispus,
6 feet 2 inches high,
short cur'l hair,
his knees nearer together than common."

After his escape, Crispus became a sailor, working on a whaling crew out of Boston Harbor.

Sometimes he worked as a naval rope-maker.

Under British rule, he would have been under constant threat of impressment into the British Navy. 

He also had to compete against British troops for jobs. 

Tensions had been increasing between Boston rope-makers and British soldiers, leading to a confrontation that included Attucks on March 5, 1770. 

The Bostonians taunted the soldiers with snowballs, oyster shells, ice chunks, sticks, and insults. 

They shouted things like, "Go ahead and fire! Why don't you fire?"

The British soldiers fired, killing Crispus Attucks and four others.

The incident was referred to as the "Boston Massacre" by the Sons of Liberty who wanted to use it to inspire outrage against the British. 

It worked.

Toussaint L'Ouverture

Born into slavery on a French colonial plantation in 1743 (later would be Haiti).

Was allowed and encouraged to become literate, securing his freedom by age 20.

A slave uprising in 1791 ("Night of Fire") inspired him to join the fight for liberation, despite already having his own freedom.

Became the military leader of the insurrection which formed an allegiance with the Spanish half of the Island (the Dominican Republic today).

France decided to grant freedom and citizenship to enslaved people in Haiti, so L'Ouverture helped France fight against Spain and the British.

He and his militants gained control of the entire island, so he made himself the leader. 

Napoleon saw L'Ouverture as too independent, so had him captured and removed from power, reinstating slavery on the island in 1802.

In 1804, Jean-Jacques Dessalines (one of L'Ouverture's generals) defeated the French and established the free nation of Haiti.

Gabriel "Prosser"

Born into slavery as the property of Thomas Prosser in Virginia in 1776. 

Became a blacksmith and literate. 

At age 20 he was 6'2" and very strong, as well as smart.

Gabriel's owner often hired him out for jobs,
so he had more freedom and money than other enslaved people. 

He spent time with other hired slaves,
free blacks, and white laborers.

Learned of Crispus Attucks and Toussaint L'Ouverture
and was inspired by their revolutions. 

Began to raise an army to kidnap the governor
and use him as a hostage to get the elite whites to give up power. 

Organized thousands of enslaved men across the state.

They made their own weapons.

Gabriel believed that the Native Americans, poor whites,
and Frenchmen would support the cause once it was underway.

Uprising was planned for August 30, 1800.

Rain made roads and bridges impassable. 

Some conspirators got nervous
and reported the plan to their owners.

The rain delay gave authorities time
to capture many conspirators
and thwart the uprising before it could start. 

Over the next two months, 26 slaves were executed
and one committed suicide in while in custody. 

Gabriel was among those hanged for the plot.

VA reimbursed slaveholders $8,900 for the loss of their property...

"Liberty or Death" 

Quotes from Members of Gabriel's Rebellion

"I have nothing more to offer
than what General Washington would have had to offer,
had he been taken by the British and put on trial by them.
I have adventured my life in endeavoring to obtain
the liberty of my countrymen,
and am a willing sacrifice in their cause."

"I am ready to join them at any moment.
I could slay the white people like sheep."