Throughout history, movements that promote change have been driven by the determination of those who call for justice. Explore the stories of persistent leaders who would not be silenced in their social movements, and learn how the collective action of individuals has changed the course of history. Nat Turner's Rebellion Nat Turner, an enslaved black man, believed he was chosen by God to battle against the evils of slavery. Driven by visions, Turner banded with other enslaved people. On August 21, 1831, his rebellion began with attacks at plantations in Southampton, Virginia. As he and his group moved from plantation to plantation, dozens of enslaved men joined them, until the local militia put an end to their rebellion. The events deepened the divide between Americans who wanted to abolish slavery and those who wanted to protect it, setting the groundwork for the Civil War.