John Brown Dbq

John Brown was an abolitionist that saw it as his duty to be a spokesperson as well as a fighter on the forefront in abolishing slavery. In his time, he took into his own hands to physically make a change for the sake of freeing slaves. On October 16, 1859, John Brown led eighteen men in a raid to capture a federal arsenal located in Harpers Ferry, Virginia. This arsenal contained rifles, muskets, and pistol, which he intended to give to slaves to provoke and lead an armed slave rebellion. During this raid Brown thought slaves would join his eighteen men to help them conquer the arsenal and to then start their rebellion, since he planned this to help the salves, but no slaves came to help Brown and his men. With no back up these men were trapped

Lee, came and ended the failed raid. The soldiers captured Brown and he was later hung for treason on December 2, 1859. As a terrorist to the south and a martyr in the north Brown’s actions, although brutal, brought attention to the slave conflict in the states sparking controversy. John Brown’s plan was unsuccessful, but for the fight against slavery, his actions called for a change. Ultimately John Brown was a martyr for the cause of abolition because through shocking the nation, being fuel for abolition, and showing how divided America was, he drew attention to the violence of slavery which enabled others to make a choice whether to push for a change in the African American community or continue mistreating the lives of innocent people. (Foner,

They could not agree with his violent tactics, but “respect[ed] his character and actions” because “he did not recognize unjust human laws, but resisted them.” When he was alive many did not listen to Brown’s speeches because he was often seen as too violent, and even after death abolitionist did not condone his use of violence but was proud to live by his example to interfere to free slaves. Henry David Thoreau stated in “A Plea for Captain John Brown” that “the question is not about the weapon, but the spirit in which you use it.” Thoreau is arguing for Brown in that most cases most the violence we encounter is often for nothing, but Brown was using violence to support something he saw was unjust. Since Brown could kill for his views of slavery, why couldn’t those who matched his view find an alternative way to bring an end to slavery and an end to the violence. The raid brought out a new conversation for those who said they were abolitionist. If they truly were against the enslavement and mistreatment of blacks it was now their time to do more than just spread moral suasion, but to find other ways to fight back and force an end to slavery. (Document 12.6