August 21, 1831 - Nat Turner launched a slave revolt in Southhampton County, Virginia. The two-day insurrection led by Turner and 75 followers left 60 whites dead. In the rebellion's aftermath, scores of African-Americans were lynched, though many were non-participants in the revolt.

For more on Nat Turner and the slave trade, go to http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part3/3p1518.html and http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/aaohtml/aopart1.html