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Book Review Of Midnight Rising: John Brown And The Raid That Sparked The Civil War

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by Tony Horwitz Midnight Rising: John Brown And The Raid That Sparked The Civil War, written by Tony Horwitz, is a historical book about civil war, which released in 2011. In his book, Tony Horwitz presents the exciting story of John Brown, who attacked the U.S. armory in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and it might be known as the first salvo of the U.S. Civil War. Tony Horwitz wants to bring a fresh viewpoint on one of the most important event that helps lead to the Civil War. Mr. Horwitz explores the suffering soul of Brown, the desperate passion of his follower, and most important – the spirit of a newborn nation. Remarkably well investigated and written, the author makes this attractive book to become a must-read for any reader who interested …show more content…

In Horwitz ‘s describing, the road to become an social activist was set from the day he born. His parents were Calvinist who raised him to believe that life is a continuous road to fight against sin and inequality. When grow up, he believed that there is no greater sin than a society of slavery. So that he also raised his son to become a passionate abolitionist. The facts that slavery existence side by side with free people extremely affected Brown, it encourage him to speak out against slavery and do anything he can to help African American as well as Native American. In his life, Brown have made contact with many popular person who also share his beliefs about slavery, from Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass and Henry David Thoreau. He also is successfully gain financial support from partisans in the North. The author show Brown’s History though his tough time, the way he did to promote Abolitionist movement while dealing with the economy growth of Southern. Brown’s military strategy seems to be not existent. His very first abolition action was a campaign about a free man being killed by armed white for not follow the orders. For that campaign Brown and his follow would be captured and killed. Horwitz’s step by step show us what leaded Brown to the story that we all know from history books about Harpers …show more content…

In the South, he was seen as a terrorist, an evil enemy comes from the North. In the North, at first, they saw Brown attacked Harpers Ferry as dumb and naive. But popular northerners like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau have a different view, they call him a hero who have die to fight against slavery. When the Union finally starts a war with Confederate States Army, along with the operation is the song that troops sing about Brown’s legendary: "John Brown's body lies a-moldering in the grave, / But his soul goes marching

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However, neither one of these events stopped Brown in his tracks to lead such large antislavery movements. The second and third part of “Midnight Rising” explain the how Brown was not the lone gunman, but as a group effort of remarkable activists and idealists who join Brown on his crusade, which happen to include Fredrick Douglas and Harriet Tubman. Within the band of men and women against slavery, three of Brown’s sons and his 16-year-old daughter acted with John Brown to create the raid of Harpers Ferry. The raid was the climax of Horwitz’s book in Brown’s attempt to free and arm slaves. The last part of the book describes how the town of Harpers Ferry looked after the raid was over, and what was to be done with all the activists that were a part of the raid though not part of the army.

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The book, Midnight Rising by Tony Horwitz, was about John Brown and the upcoming events that led him to the raid of Harpers Ferry. John Brown was an American who strongly believed in the abolishment of slavery in the United States. The author’s purpose of this book was to go into depth about John Brown and what he did that contributed to spark the Civil War. When Tony Horwitz wrote about the loss of Brown’s children and it made him depressed, I liked that Horwitz mentions earlier losses and his emotions that later contributed to the loss of his children that resulted him to a highly commitment of slavery abolishment.

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A leader’s breaking point in battle is often when he surrenders. In this moving speech, Black Hawk reaches his breaking point. In 1832, Black Hawk had no choice but to surrender, and in his speech he detailed the history of lies and betrayals. Black Hawk uses his last strength of power to inspire his people to keep on fighting. In his speech, Black Hawk evokes emotion to unite the Indians and a shift in point of view to imply that now it’s their time to fight the battle.

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He was seen as a martyr for the abolitionist cause and the abolitionist movement grew off of his sacrifice. John Brown’s goal of abolition would be achieved after his death. (Murphy) John Brown can be related to Chris McCandless in the fact that they were both in disagreement of the norms of American society. Although their methods were very different, they both eventually convinced others that their respective paths and ideas were the way that people and society should live. John Brown convinced helped spark a major growth in the abolition movement while Chris McCandless managed to convince some people that he met along his travels and several others that have read about his ideas and travels to let go of the grips of society and discover yourself in the wild, natural world.(Krakauer)

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He realized beforehand that the only way to end slavery was by a civil war, and he was the essential part in getting that war started. His eagerness toutilize violence as a solution to this problem of slavery set him apart from other abolitionists. In his editorial Horace Greeley details the sentiment of the countryregarding Brown: “And, while we heartily wish every slave in the world would run awayfrom his master tomorrow and never be retaken, we should not feel justified in entering aslave state to incite them to do so, even if we were sure to succeed in the enterprise”(Document

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John Brown’s son, John Brown Jr. was the first to decide to head down to Nebraska and become a farmer and a soldier for the war on slavery. John Brown Jr.’s other 4 sons decided to join him, as well as his father’s brother in law. After his son wrote to him one day about how half of the people fighting for freedom were not even armed and there was no military John Brown then decided to join his son in Kansas. This was the beginning to John Brown’s escalation as a radical abolitionist. Almost as soon as John Brown arrived there was blood spilled by a proslavery Virginian who had killed a free state settler after a dispute.

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In 1859, Brown had enough support financially by the abolitionists because he was a son of an abolitionist, and then Brown made his plans to start a slave rebellion in Virginia. The plan was to spread the rebellion through the South. Later that year on October, Brown and eighteen of his men captured the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry. Then

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He saw the wrong in owning slaves. He believed what he was doing and what he believed in was right not wrong. He was hung with the pleasure of knowing he made an impact on the world. John Brown tried very hard to do anything to please god and free slaves.

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Student’s name Professor’s name Course Date Book Review Synopsis of the Content The Texas Revolutionary Experience by Paul D. Lack is a book aimed at honoring the legends of the Texas Revolution. More focus and insight is given on the reasons that led to the conflict witnessed in 1835-1836 and an analysis of how the real events transpired.

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He attacked the arsenal in 1859 and he took it over easily because the defense was low at the arsenal. But soon after they took it over, the village near the arsenal attacked John Brown and his team of 21. In his team of 21 he had 5 sons helping him, 5 blacks and 16 whites. When the village attacked, no slaves helped fight so John’s team, including his 5 sons, died. John Brown was captured and hung a month and a half later on December 2,

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In The Civil War: A Narrative, Shelby Foote tells about the different perspectives of both sides of the war, ranging from Fort Sumter to Perryville. Foote explains in depth the perspectives of those that experienced the war, as well as how their lives were impacted. Growing up, Foote was always interested in writing, but it wasn’t until later in life that delved into nonfiction. He was part of the newspaper, and was mainly interested in english and history, mainly writing short stories and poems. He only began to write The Civil War: A Narrative when the publishing company Random House contacted him and asked that he write a short comprehensive book about the Civil War for the Civil War’s centennial anniversary.

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As John Brown once said “I have only a short time to live,only one death to die,and I will die fighting for this cause. There would be no peace in the land until slavery is done for. ”What John Brown meant by this was he will make any sacrifices just so slavery can come to an end. John Brown is an important figure in American history because he would even go as far as dying just to achieve his goal. John Brown was born on May 9,1800 in Torrington Connecticut.

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Robert Remini’s Andrew Jackson and His Indian Wars is a book that makes you question Jackson's character. Remini addresses the long-standing debate of historians and scholars over whether or not Jackson was barbaric or whether he was a merciful savior that prevented the Native Americans from going extinct. Remini instead argues the opinion that Jackson was simply a man of his time. Despite this, Remini does show Jackson's inexcusable cruelty towards the Native Americans. He learned to fear and hate Indians from an early age.

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John Brown has always been a controversial antebellum topic. Some have called him a hero for his bravery in the face of battle and death, and some have called him a villain because of his difficult-to-justify actions. John Brown has been called a martyr because of his good motives, but he was really an egomaniac, obsessed with the idea of destroying slavery. Brown’s history of violence in Kansas and Virginia proves this. The Pottawatomie, Kansas massacre, which John Brown planned as revenge for the sack of Lawrence, and orchestrated, was a preemptive strike against pro-slavery settlers.

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On October 16 1859, John and twenty-one followers attacked and occupied the federal arsenal in Harpers Ferry. Though he denied, It was believed that he was getting weapons to arm the slaves in order to lead a rebellion. Brown’s position was overrun, and he was quickly surrounded by militia (commanded by Col. Robert E. Lee.). John was captured and convicted for murder.

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