it was ..... 是强调句型,原句是Nat Turner led a revolt against slavery in Virginia in 1831,
为了强调领导人,用了it was ... who .....的句型,是固定用法,肯定是it。同理可以强调句子的其他部分,比如It was slavery that Nat Turner led a revolt against in Virginia in 1831, 或者It was Virginia where Nat Turner led a revolt against slavery in 1831.