Throughout the history of the United States" many events have transpired. Some of those events the citizens look back and are proud they happened, others the citizens look back and feel ashamed of what had happened. One of those events that instill shame is the former American institution of slavery. Although during that time some people tried to stop the horrors of slavery most people did not mind. Those who did mind tried to find ways to help the African Americans resist slavery. Although African Americans were unhappy with the conditions, which they lived, not all the slaves would resist their enslavement, but many slaves still resisted.
The first way slaves would resist their enslavement is through Revolts. There are 3 slave insurrections in American History: John Brown's raid at Harper's Ferry in 1859, Denmark Vesey's revolt in 1822, and Nat Turners revolt in August 21, 1831. The first conspiracy for a revolt was started by Denmark Vesey, a free slave Methodist leader. On May 30, 1822, George Wilson, "a favourite and confidential slave" (Pearson 429) informed his master of a planned insurrection that involved thousands of free and enslaved blacks who lived in and around Charleston. Charleston authorities subsequently uncovered evidence of the most extensive black insurrection in American history, planned for July, 1822. The city's suppression of the African Church, which had a membership of over three thousand in 1820, provided the catalyst for revolt; Denmark Vesey began using his position as a respected free man and Methodist leader to organize other free and enslaved blacks. Among Vesey's co-conspirators was Gullah Jack Pritchard, an African priest from Mozambique. Monday Gell, another of his lieutenants, wrote two letters to the president of Santo Domingo seeking support for the insurrection. Once the plot was betrayed, Charleston officials moved quickly to arrest and question the leaders.
