After Nat Turner's Rebellion, which occurred in August of 1831, the question of slavery in Virginia was greatly debated. In the months that followed, about forty petitions, signed by more than 2,000 Virginians, urged the General Assembly to examine and resolve the problems associated with slavery. Some petitions called for outright emancipation, others for colonization. Many focused on removing from the state free blacks, who were widely seen as a nefarious influence. This exhibit is about the immediate aftermath of the rebellion, the legislative debate in the Virginia State Assembly, and the effect on Black life, especially that of free Blacks.
Credits
Tasha Anderson