Existing comment:
U.S. Army Dragoon helmet
1831: Slave Revolt
Nat Turner led an uprising of fellow slaves who murdered close to sixth of their white owners. Within a few days vigilante groups and army dragoons -- wearing helmets of the type exhibited here -- killed 100 to 200 blacks. Turner was convicted and hanged. State legislators who had been debating the abolition of slavery instead passed harsh new laws to restrict the education and movement of enslaved African Americans. |