Herbert Aptheker has recorded over hundred insurrections.
Although most slave revolts in America were small and ineffective, there were three in particular which chilled Southern hearts.

These were led by Gabriel Prosser, Denmark Vesey, and Nat Turner and occurred within the short span between 1800 and 1831.

Toussaint l'Ouverture in Haiti had previously demonstrated that slaves could be victorious over large European armies, and the American colonists had taught by their example in the American Revolution that violence in the service of freedom was justifiable.

The gradual abolition of slavery which was occurring in the Northern states gave hope that the institution in America might be terminated altogether.

However, the slaves saw little reason to believe that their Southern masters would follow the example of the Northerners in abolishing slavery.