Reflection
Primary Source
A primary source that was used to make this website was the letter from a soldier to his wife. This letter illustrated what life was like for a soldier during the Civil War. The feelings expressed by the soldier, through the letter, were genuine and authentic and we can therefore assume that this letter is a reliable source. This letter also appears to be reliable because the writing style is specific to that time period in the mid to late 1800's. Also, the details of war discussed by the soldier seemed to be something only a soldier would know and live to tell. So even though we don't know for sure if this is a real soldier and a real letter, the reliability seems to be there with the information presented. I chose to look into the account of a soldier as a primary source because there is no better person that would know the everyday events of the Civil War than a soldier who lived through it everyday and experienced it firsthand.
Secondary Source
A secondary source that was used to make this website was The America's Textbook. I chose to use this U.S. history textbook because I knew that the textbook would account on all the major key events of the Civil War in a chronological well-presented order. I also chose to use this textbook because it was easily available to use for researching events of the Civil War. I knew this textbook would be a reliable source as it has been used to teach people the history of the United States for many years.
Primary Source
A primary source that was used to make this website was the letter from a soldier to his wife. This letter illustrated what life was like for a soldier during the Civil War. The feelings expressed by the soldier, through the letter, were genuine and authentic and we can therefore assume that this letter is a reliable source. This letter also appears to be reliable because the writing style is specific to that time period in the mid to late 1800's. Also, the details of war discussed by the soldier seemed to be something only a soldier would know and live to tell. So even though we don't know for sure if this is a real soldier and a real letter, the reliability seems to be there with the information presented. I chose to look into the account of a soldier as a primary source because there is no better person that would know the everyday events of the Civil War than a soldier who lived through it everyday and experienced it firsthand.
Secondary Source
A secondary source that was used to make this website was The America's Textbook. I chose to use this U.S. history textbook because I knew that the textbook would account on all the major key events of the Civil War in a chronological well-presented order. I also chose to use this textbook because it was easily available to use for researching events of the Civil War. I knew this textbook would be a reliable source as it has been used to teach people the history of the United States for many years.
Short Answer CSE
Nat Turner made conscientious actions towards slave owners due to their unjust regard toward the freedom of slaves. Turner was a black slave from Southampton County, Virginia who was very intelligent compared to many other slaves. His intelligence was recognized by many: "Both whites and blacks had said he was too intelligent to be raised a slave; yet here he was, fully grown and still in a bondage" (221). Nat Turner had bitter feelings towards slave owners due to the fact that many black slaves who were liberated in Southampton County were far less intelligent than he was, yet they were free and he was not. Even other people in the town felt it bizarre that Turner had yet to be liberated as smart as he was. This anger caused by unfairness continued to build up in Turner and eventually contributed to the slave revolt, led by Turner himself, in which many white slave owners and their families were killed. Although harsh, Turner's actions were justified; he was one of the most talented men in the county yet he was still imprisoned by slave owners while other less deserving slaves were being set free. Another reason that justified Turner's actions and compelled him to bring about a slave revolt was the fact that he and his wife were separated, along with many other families, and torn apart by slavery. Author Stephen B. Oates talks about the time just after Turner and his wife Cherry were sold to different owners: "Although they were not far apart and still saw each other from time to time, their separation was nevertheless a painful example of the wretched privations that slavery placed on black people, even here in mellowed Southampton County" (222). Looking back at slavery in the U.S., it is always hard to imagine how cruel it would be to see families torn apart and sold to different slave owners. As if it wasn't hard enough being a slave already, then slaves are ripped away from their families and forced to endure the everyday struggle of being a slave all by themselves, with no one in their family there to comfort and support them. Looking back at Turner's life, he was only able to see his wife from time to time as they were forced to go their separate ways. His wife was the only family Turner had, as his parents had left earlier on in his life. Turner was obviously lonely being by himself, and with this knowledge that slave owners could care less about keeping families together, he made the justified decision of leading the slave revolt and standing up for the abolition of slavery. In summary, slave owners disregarded Nat Turner's intelligence compared to previously liberated slaves, forcing Turner to continue being a slave even though he was far too talented to be the property of another. Turner, along with many other slaves, was torn apart from his wife, his sole family member; slaves were treated like individual property and not as package deals to be kept with their families. Both of these factors combined, along with many others, gave justification to the acting out of Turner and other slaves alike against their owners, no matter how cruel the slaves were in their fierce rebellion.
Nat Turner made conscientious actions towards slave owners due to their unjust regard toward the freedom of slaves. Turner was a black slave from Southampton County, Virginia who was very intelligent compared to many other slaves. His intelligence was recognized by many: "Both whites and blacks had said he was too intelligent to be raised a slave; yet here he was, fully grown and still in a bondage" (221). Nat Turner had bitter feelings towards slave owners due to the fact that many black slaves who were liberated in Southampton County were far less intelligent than he was, yet they were free and he was not. Even other people in the town felt it bizarre that Turner had yet to be liberated as smart as he was. This anger caused by unfairness continued to build up in Turner and eventually contributed to the slave revolt, led by Turner himself, in which many white slave owners and their families were killed. Although harsh, Turner's actions were justified; he was one of the most talented men in the county yet he was still imprisoned by slave owners while other less deserving slaves were being set free. Another reason that justified Turner's actions and compelled him to bring about a slave revolt was the fact that he and his wife were separated, along with many other families, and torn apart by slavery. Author Stephen B. Oates talks about the time just after Turner and his wife Cherry were sold to different owners: "Although they were not far apart and still saw each other from time to time, their separation was nevertheless a painful example of the wretched privations that slavery placed on black people, even here in mellowed Southampton County" (222). Looking back at slavery in the U.S., it is always hard to imagine how cruel it would be to see families torn apart and sold to different slave owners. As if it wasn't hard enough being a slave already, then slaves are ripped away from their families and forced to endure the everyday struggle of being a slave all by themselves, with no one in their family there to comfort and support them. Looking back at Turner's life, he was only able to see his wife from time to time as they were forced to go their separate ways. His wife was the only family Turner had, as his parents had left earlier on in his life. Turner was obviously lonely being by himself, and with this knowledge that slave owners could care less about keeping families together, he made the justified decision of leading the slave revolt and standing up for the abolition of slavery. In summary, slave owners disregarded Nat Turner's intelligence compared to previously liberated slaves, forcing Turner to continue being a slave even though he was far too talented to be the property of another. Turner, along with many other slaves, was torn apart from his wife, his sole family member; slaves were treated like individual property and not as package deals to be kept with their families. Both of these factors combined, along with many others, gave justification to the acting out of Turner and other slaves alike against their owners, no matter how cruel the slaves were in their fierce rebellion.