Answer:
The correct answer is C. The efforts of Nat Turner in 1831 caused southern states to take harsher measures to prevent slave uprisings.
Explanation:
Nathaniel "Nat" Turner was an American slave, whose failed rebellion in the county of Southampton, Virginia, is the most outstanding example of resistance of blacks to the prevailing slave system in the southern states before the Civil War.
On February 12, 1831, an annular eclipse of the Sun occurred in Virginia. Turner interpreted it as a warning that he should organize a rebellion, which he decided would take place on July 4.
Turner began his rebellion with only some of his companions, but in the end he had more than fifty men, among slaves and free blacks, most of whom had horses. The rebels traveled from house to house, freeing slaves and killing all the white men they met.
In order not to alert anyone of their presence when they carried out their attacks, they used knives instead of firearms. Turner ordered his group to "kill all the whites." No one was spared, although a small child who hid in a fireplace was one of the few survivors. Until the rebellion met resistance from a militia of whites, fifty-five white people were killed, among men, women and children.
The rebellion was defeated in only forty-eight hours, but Turner managed to avoid being captured for months. On October 30, he was arrested in a swamp by a white farmer. On November 5, 1831, Nat Turner was tried, found guilty and sentenced to death. He was hanged on November 11 in Jerusalem (Virginia).
The legislative chamber of Virginia considered the idea of abolishing slavery, but in a tight vote in which the recent rebellion had a decisive influence, it was decided to maintain slavery and increase the repression against slaves and free blacks. The liberties of all the blacks of Virginia were cut and it was forbidden to question the slave system, to avoid that the discussion on the subject could encourage future revolts.
