11/12 HIST

The Raid at Harpers Ferry

• Context of the Raid

  • Date: 1859

  • Leader: John Brown, a white abolitionist

  • Participants: A group of anti-slavery activists and formerly enslaved individuals

  • Purpose: To raid the US armory at Harpers Ferry (Virginia) to take arms for an uprising among enslaved people.

• Background on Slavery in Virginia

  • Approximately 580,000 individuals enslaved in Virginia at the time.

  • Plan to inspire fugitivity and conduct guerrilla warfare in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

• Outcome of the Raid

  • Tactical errors led to capture.

  • All 16 members either killed or captured; John Brown ultimately executed by hanging in 1861.

• Cultural Impact

  • In 1861, the song "John Brown's Body" is written, becoming a popular anthem for Union troops.

  • Lyrics state, "John Brown's body lies a moldering in his grave, but his soul goes marching on."

• Ideological Reception

  • Northerners: Viewed John Brown as a heroic figure encouraging Union soldiers.

  • Southerners: Saw him as a diabolical entity, emphasizing the division in viewpoints regarding abolitionism.

• Contributions of Black Comrades

  • Often overlooked in history, but they had significant motivations:

    • Two were students from Oberlin College, a center for abolitionist activism.

    • Dangerfield Newby, whose wife remained enslaved in Virginia, sought to rescue her.

    • Harriet Newby urged him through letters, including one just before the raid, indicating an imminent relocation into slavery.

    • Dangerfield was killed at Harpers Ferry; his body was mutilated by locals afterward.

Broader Context Leading to the Civil War

• John Brown's Vision vs. Surrender to Government Action

  • Many abolitionists felt that the government was failing to act against slavery.

  • By 1859, activists increasingly believed that armed resistance was their only hope.

• Expansion and Reinforcement of Slavery

• Historical Legal Framework

  • The Compromise of 1850: Strengthened the Fugitive Slave Law and allowed new states to determine for themselves whether to permit slavery through “popular sovereignty” (i.e., local voting).

  • Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854: Allowed the extension of slavery into the northern territories of Kansas and Nebraska, inflaming tensions between proslavery and antislavery groups.

• Consequences of Political Actions

  • Urban violence termed "Bleeding Kansas" emerged from conflicts between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers.

  • John Brown's first acts of violence against pro-slavery forces occurred in this context.

Important Legal and Political Decisions

• Dred Scott Decision (1857)

  • Ruling: Chief Justice Roger Taney stated that no person of African ancestry could claim citizenship in the United States and had no constitutional rights.

  • The ruling invalidated the Missouri Compromise and further entrenched the institution of slavery.

• Political Climate Post-Dred Scott

  • The perceived powerlessness of legal means to counteract slavery led to increased desperation among abolitionists.

  • John Brown's raid reflected the resulting radicalization within the abolitionist movement.

Secession and Political Breakdown

• Secessionist Movement

  • Grew post-John Brown's raid, fueled by fears regarding the election of Abraham Lincoln (1860).

  • Recognized as a mainstream movement in response to perceived threats against slave-holding economic interests and social order.

• Election of 1860

  • Lincoln won with about 40% of the popular vote, while the Democratic Party split, fielding two candidates.

  • Lincoln's platform: Primarily preventing the expansion of slavery rather than outright abolition.

• Economic Factors

  • Post-Lincoln election: Slave prices dropped by one-third, causing alarm among slaveholders about the viability of the institution.

  • Economic dependency on slave labor, particularly in agriculture, was a driving factor behind secession.

• Deep South vs. Border States

  • Differences in economic reliance on slavery led to varying approaches to secession:

  • Deep South: Primarily slave-dependent economies, seceded first.

  • Border South: Less economically reliant on slavery, remained with the Union for longer.

Philosophical and Ethical Underpinnings

• Arguments Justifying Secession

  • Slavery seen as foundational to the economic success and societal structure of the South.

  • Racist and gender panic driving fear of societal collapse and loss of white dominance if abolition succeeded.

  • Assertions suggesting a likelihood of "black governance" and the associated dangers were widely disseminated.

• Attitudes Toward Slavery in Contemporary Discourse

  • Notable speeches by Southern leaders espoused the idea that foundational inequity justified the perpetuation of slavery.

  • Examples include arguments from prominent figures who equated the questioning of slavery to fundamental threats to Southern culture and stability.

• Proslavery American Dream vs. Free Soil American Dream

  • Competing visions highlighting the transitional conflict in which many valued liberty and autonomy differently, leading to polarization and conflict.

  • Northern fears of losing economic rights and personal dignity due to the pro-slavery agenda informed their resistance to secession.

Final Note on the Structure of Secession Movements

• Three Distinct Souths

  • Deep South: Heavily invested in slavery and secessionist.

  • Middle South: Mixed responses to secession based on investment and regional differences.

  • Border South: States with lesser dependence on slavery that chose not to secede.

• Georgia's Complex Response

  • Mixed feelings towards secession; some were supportive, while others opposed it vehemently, leading to internal conflict.

  • Voting processes and conventions reflected a struggle between elite interests and the broader population's desires for representation and agency.

• Future Considerations

  • The continued examination of these movements and differing ideologies is crucial to understanding the Civil War's complexities.