John Brown Dbq

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John Brown was an abolitionist who believed armed insurrection was the only way to overcome slavery. His raid on Harpers Ferry would affect many people's views on slavery. He had done many other acts against slavery before the raid. Even though his raid was not a success, it still had an impact on the beginning of the civil war. Brown’s was a known abolitionist even before his raid on Harpers Ferry. When he was 55 he moved to kansas with his sons. On May 24,1856, John Brown took 5 men and boys who were supporters of slavery from their homes in Pottawatomie Creek and killed them. During the attack one of Brown’s sons were killed. Before his raid on Harpers ferry Brown got the support of six abolitionists who became known as “the secret six.” The raid took place on October 16-18, 1859. They took over harpers ferry which was the site of the u.s military arsenal located on the eastern Panhandle of West Virginia near the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers. …show more content…

The raid was a failure because Brown didn't get the help of the slaves the he wanted and he had no rations or escape route, so the whole plan was basically doomed. Local militia and citizens attacked brown and his men until troops under Robert E. Lee came from washington and arrested Brown. Brown was sentenced to death on December 2nd, Ralph Waldo Emerson said “Brown will make the gallows as glorious as the cross.As Brown was going to be hanged he handed the guard a note that said “I John Brown , am certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood.” Even though the raid was a failure, it made even more tension between the north and the south, which fueled the beginning of the civil

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