Nat Turner was an educated American slave who, claiming to be God-inspired, started a violent uprising in 1831, killing 60 men, women and children. His rebellion was then surpressed by a militia, with him being convicted and sentenced to death.
Short report on Nat Turner's rebellion: http://weestro.hubpages.com/hub/History-of-Nat-Turners-Rebellion-or-Nat-Turners-Revolt
What would happen if Nat Turner, instead of using violence, prefered a more humane way to combat slavery, maybe even claiming to act accordingly to the definition of Christian love, at least not killing any women and children and managing to amass men and weapons as in OTL? What would be the general reaction to someone who claimed to be God-inspired and acted with no violence to end slavery? A black Messiah, a true Freedom Fighter or just a mad man? Most important: Can he be barely successful and/or inspire a larger movement in the following years?
I guess the reaction of the Virginia's government would still be harsh, but the idea of someone who used Christian love instead of violence to show the arbitrariness of slavery would be strongly rotted in Abolitionist's psyche and could gain more foothold than in the USA OTL. Nat Turner would be well seen today as an earlier preacher of non-violent activism.
Short report on Nat Turner's rebellion: http://weestro.hubpages.com/hub/History-of-Nat-Turners-Rebellion-or-Nat-Turners-Revolt
What would happen if Nat Turner, instead of using violence, prefered a more humane way to combat slavery, maybe even claiming to act accordingly to the definition of Christian love, at least not killing any women and children and managing to amass men and weapons as in OTL? What would be the general reaction to someone who claimed to be God-inspired and acted with no violence to end slavery? A black Messiah, a true Freedom Fighter or just a mad man? Most important: Can he be barely successful and/or inspire a larger movement in the following years?
I guess the reaction of the Virginia's government would still be harsh, but the idea of someone who used Christian love instead of violence to show the arbitrariness of slavery would be strongly rotted in Abolitionist's psyche and could gain more foothold than in the USA OTL. Nat Turner would be well seen today as an earlier preacher of non-violent activism.