On August 13, 1831, Nat Turner witnessed a solar eclipse, which he interpreted as a sign from God. Eight days later he and 70 other slaves killed approximately 55 whites in Southampton County, Virginia.
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Eclipse 1831
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Had Turner and his allies targeted only actual slave-owners or their agents, then the revolt might reasonably be seen as heroic and would, even in defeat, have served the cause of abolition. Instead, they engaged in terroristic savagery, and set-back the cause terribly. Modern attempts to excuse what they did entail low whataboutism.