IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 660 

Recognizing the courageous actions of Reverend Nat Turner in his fight 

to abolish slavery and make the majestic words of the Jeffersonian 

Declaration of Independence, ‘‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, 

that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator 

with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and 

the pursuit of happiness’’, apply to the enslaved, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

AUGUST 22, 2023 

Mr. GREEN of Texas submitted the following resolution; which was referred 

to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the courageous actions of Reverend Nat Turner 

in his fight to abolish slavery and make the majestic 

words of the Jeffersonian Declaration of Independence, 

‘‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men 

are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator 

with certain unalienable rights, that among these are 

life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness’’, apply to 

the enslaved, and for other purposes. 

Whereas this resolution may be cited as the original resolution recognizing the courageous actions of Reverend Nat 

Turner; 


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•HRES 660 IH 

Whereas Reverend Nat Turner was born into slavery in 

Southampton County, Virginia, in 1800; 

Whereas after learning to read and write at a young age, 

Reverend Nat Turner became a pastor who, because of 

his professed prophetic visions, was dubbed ‘‘The Prophet’’; 

Whereas at the age of 30, Reverend Nat Turner led one of 

the most significant rebellions in American history on 

August 21, 1831; 

Whereas the rebellion, also known as the Southampton Insurrection, demonstrated the profound desire for freedom 

among enslaved persons; 

Whereas in his efforts to liberate those in bondage from the 

crime against humanity known as slavery, Reverend Nat 

Turner employed controversial methods, ultimately taking 

the lives of more than 55 people for which he was condemned and executed; 

Whereas in retaliation for the Turner rebellion to free the 

enslaved, militia, enslavers, and mobs murdered as many 

as 120 African Americans, both enslaved and free; 

Whereas also in retaliation, slave State legislatures passed 

laws to fortify slavery by restraining rights of the 

enslaved to learn to read, write, and assemble; 

Whereas the Turner rebellion was a harbinger of war to come 

between slave States and free States, the Civil War; 

Whereas Reverend Nat Turner’s actions inspired other acts 

of resistance among enslaved human beings determined 

to realize the Jeffersonian unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and kindled the national debate concerning the injustices of slavery; 


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Whereas this debate contributed to the eventual abolition of 

slavery, a critical step forward toward the realization of 

the noble Jeffersonian ideal of all persons (enslavers and 

enslaved alike) being created equal and endowed by their 

creator with certain unalienable rights, among them life, 

liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; and 

Whereas this House recognizes that discussions about the 

freedom fighters such as Reverend Nat Turner and John 

Brown must consider the historic injustices and brutal 

conditions they were fighting against: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) honors the freedom fighter Reverend Nat 

3 Turner for his courage and sacrifice in the face of 

4 brutal and systemic injustice; 

5 (2) recognizes the contributions of Reverend 

6 Nat Turner to the eventual abolition of slavery in 

7 the United States; 

8 (3) encourages continued study, understanding, 

9 and dialogue about the complexities of the struggle 

10 for racial justice in the United States, including the 

11 role of freedom fighters such as Reverend Nat Tur12 ner; 

13 (4) reaffirms its commitment to the principles 

14 of noble Jeffersonian ideal of all persons being cre15 ated equal and endowed by their creator with certain 

16 unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, 

17 and the pursuit of happiness; and 


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•HRES 660 IH 

1 (5) calls on the citizens of the United States to 

2 observe a moment of reflection on Slavery Remem3 brance Day for all those who suffered and died in 

4 the struggle against a great crime against humanity, 

5 slavery. 

Æ 


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