John+Brown%27s+Raid+on+Harper%27s+Ferry

Part One: Introduction to John Brown

John Brown's Raid

• Date: October 16, 1859

• Location: Harpers Ferry, Virginia

• Participants: 18 armed men (5 black, 13 white)

• Objective: Capture arsenal; start a slave uprising to end slavery.

• Events:

  • Brown led his group across the Potomac River into Harpers Ferry.

  • Raid was intended to inspire and arm slaves and conduct guerilla warfare against slaveholders in the South.

  • Raid faced no immediate resistance from the townspeople initially.

  • However, the hoped-for uprising never occurred; after local resistance, Brown surrendered within 36 hours.

  • Brown was captured, tried, and sentenced to death following his capture.

Aftermath of the Raid

• Prophetic Message: Before his execution on December 2, 1859, Brown stated the land's sins would only be purged with blood.

• Impact:

  • The raid polarized North and South, igniting tensions.

  • Reports of Brown's network and sympathies varied, intensifying fear among Southerners.

  • Northern intellectuals viewed Brown as a martyr for the abolitionist cause.

• Historical Significance:

  • Harpers Ferry became a crucial point leading toward the Civil War.

  • Highlights the divide in attitudes towards abolitionism.

The Polarization of the Nation

• Southern Response:

  • Formation of Southern Rights Associations to protect against abolitionist threats.

  • Major fears arose regarding violence and rebellion among slaves.

• Northern Response:

  • Sympathy for Brown among some intellectuals; viewed him as a hero.

  • Public meetings held to express support for abolitionist sentiment.

• Political Landscape Impact:

  • John Brown’s actions overshadowed all issues in the 1860 presidential campaign.

  • His raid contributed to states like South Carolina choosing to secede from the Union.

John Brown's Early Life

• Birth: May 9, 1800, in Torrington, Connecticut.

• Family Background:

  • Descendant of early New England settlers; father was a tanner.

  • Raised in a household that condemned slavery as sinful.

• Personal Encounter with Slavery:

  • Witnessed the brutality of slavery at age 12 during the War of 1812, leading to his resolve as a determined abolitionist.

John Brown's Influence and Beliefs

• Marriage and Family:

  • Married Dianthe Lusk in 1820; had six children.

  • Married Mary Ann Day after Dianthe's death, having 13 more children.

• Religious Influence:

  • Father’s strict Calvinist beliefs shaped Brown's worldview; considered slavery as a profound sin.

  • Engaged in religious revivals but his perception of God as a vengeful divine shaped his commitment to violent abolitionism.

Evolution Towards Abolitionism

• Radicalization:

  • Influenced by abolitionist literature and the radical changes in antislavery movements during the 1830s and 1840s.

  • Inspired by figures such as David Walker and William Lloyd Garrison.

• Harsh Realities of Abolition:

  • Ties to organized abolitionism grew stronger; involvement in anti-slavery groups.

• Violence and Resistance:

  • After a mob killed abolitionist Elijah Lovejoy, Brown vowed to dedicate his life to fighting slavery.

Kansas and John Brown's Radical Action

• Bleeding Kansas (1856) Events:

  • Brown's violent responses to pro-slavery activity included the Pottawatomie Massacre, which made him both known and reviled.

  • The tumultuous conflict in Kansas solidified his identity as a radical abolitionist, leading to further violent actions against pro-slavery forces.

The Path to the Raid

• Preparation for Harpers Ferry:

  • In 1857, Brown planned an armed uprising in the South, culminating in the raid on Harpers Ferry.

• Financing the Raid:

  • Brown solicited aid from abolitionists in New England, acquiring weapons and fighters for his cause.

  • Aiming to set up a free state within the South, he detailed plans including a constitution for this new state that would include all races as equals.

• Final Execution of the Plan:

  • October 16, 1859: Brown, with an unconventional team, launched the raid at Harpers Ferry.

The Raid on Harpers Ferry: Day of Action

• Execution of the Raid:

  • Successfully captured the federal armory but lacked reinforcements for a sustained campaign.

  • Initial captures were without violence, but as news spread, resistance and casualties increased on both sides.

• Failure and Capture:

  • Local militia and federal forces eventually overpowered Brown’s group; escapes were thwarted and many were killed.

  • Brown and several followers were captured; he faced death but maintained he acted in accordance with his beliefs against slavery.

Trial and Legacy

• Trial: Held swiftly to prevent mob violence against Brown.

  • Brown defended his actions as righteous and grounded in his moral beliefs, directly invoking Biblical principles.

  • Judged guilty and sentenced to hang.

• Execution and Martyrdom: December 2, 1859, marked his swinging into martyrdom, galvanizing both sides of the slavery debate and further entrenching divisions in the nation.