Africa Americans between 1820 and 1865 responded in many different ways to the attempts of whites trying to control and subordinate them. Some responded to white control by combating with knowledge, some responded with violence, and others responded with disobeying their masters. The most effective means was usually with knowledge and received the littlest back lash from white subordinators In one case John Brown led a rebellion marching along with slaves. Slaves would join in in this revolt knowing capture would mean certain death. In October 1859, John Brown led a raid seizing the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry in what is now West Virginia. Brown intended to lead a slave rebellion which would set the institution on the road of extinction. Local militia and federal soldiers quickly captured brown and his co-conspirators. In the following excerpts, newspapers editors from across the country of different political parties commented upon the role of slaves in the raid and possibility of slave insurrection this was one way that slaves responded to the attempts of whites trying to control them they showed that they wouldn't just take being controlled without some backlash. Then we also see Fredrick Douglas retaliating against the owner he was rented to. He stood up to this man and showed he was not subordinate to him. This was a special case because this man was knowing as a slave breaker, so having Fredrick Douglas stand up to him would of hurt his reputation, so this saved him from further punishment. In august 1831 a Virginian slave by the name of Nat turner led a slave rebellion across the state. He marched with these men stopping at farm houses and plantations freeing slaves and killing the masters, wives and even children. He spared some that other slaves vouched for and said they treated them well. This slave rebellion killed 60 white people. Some slaves combated subordination to their masters with knowledge. Some slaves such as Fredrick Douglas knew that knowledge was a way to freedom. Buy learning to read he undermined