REBELLION AND THE MONROE DOCTRINE

Gabriel (1776 – October 10, 1800), today known as Gabriel Prosser, was a literate enslaved blacksmith who planned a large slave rebellion in the Richmond (Virginia) area during the spring and summer of 1800. On the 30^th August 1800, Gabriel intended to lead slaves into Richmond, but the rebellion was postponed because of rain. The slaves' owners had suspicion of the uprising, and two slaves told their owner, Mosby Sheppard, about the plans. He warned Virginia's Governor, James Monroe, who called out the state militia. Gabriel escaped downriver to Norfolk, but he was spotted and betrayed there by another slave for the reward offered by the state. That slave did not receive the full reward. 

Monroe

Gabriel was returned to Richmond for questioning, but he did not submit. Gabriel, his two brothers, and 23 other slaves were hanged. Gabriel was born in the year of the writing of the 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.

This Virginia Governor, James Monroe was considered one of the founding fathers of the United States. He fought in the Continental Army from 1775 to 1780 and later served as the 5^th President of the United States from 1817 to 1825. It is his administration that came up with the Monroe Doctrine. It stated that further efforts by European nations to colonise land or interfere with states in North or South America would be viewed as acts of aggression requiring U.S. intervention. The Doctrine noted that the United States would neither interfere with existing European colonies nor meddle in the internal concerns of European countries. The Doctrine was issued at a time when nearly all Latin American colonies of Spain and Portugal had achieved independence from the Spanish Empire (except Cuba and Puerto Rico). The United States, working in agreement with Britain, wanted to guarantee no European power would move in. ‘Stay out of my back yard’ was the clear intention. It was invoked by many an American President, including Kennedy, Johnson and Reagan.

Marshall

Yet, one hundred and sixty seven years later, President Lyndon Johnson nominated Thurgood Marshall to the Supreme Court following the retirement of Justice Tom C. Clark, saying that this was "the right thing to do, the right time to do it, the right man and the right place." Marshall was confirmed as an Associate Justice by a Senate vote of 69–11 on 30^th August 1967. He was the 96th person to hold the position, and the first African American.