John Brown was the first violent abolitionist. He showed the the North was not afraid to physically fight for their beliefs. He became a martyr for the North
His father, Owen Brown, who was “a committed pacifist”, was passionately opposed to slavery, which heavily influenced John Brown to become an abolitionist (Horwitz, 2011, p.19). John Brown is described as “a warrior at heart”, who was focused on the task to “undermine slavery (Horwitz, 2011, p.19, 31). This obsession to terminate slavery was his inspiration throughout all the skirmishes he fought in and slaves he helped free. The most infamous battle was his raid on Harper’s Ferry, where he was captured, trialed, and later hung. This battle is believed to be a major
Thomas Paine was opposed to slavery due to the quote he said. "Slave, who is proper owner of his freedom, has the right to reclaim it, however often sold." He goes on to say the African slaves were forced into the slavery due to the Europeans bring liquor to there land, bribing one against another, and hiring tribes to fight other tribes. Thomas Paine was an original member of the Anti Slavery formed in Philadelphia.
A Hero in Disguise John Brown, some say that he is a cold blooded killer. Others say he is a hero to the nation. And he is a hero to the nation John Brown was a man who believed in his own personal beliefs. His beliefs were that every man is equal. And that slavery was wrong and he felt like he was meant to be the one to stop slavery in its tracks.
There are many arguments in favor of John Brown being a freedom fighter. For example, he saw the wrong in having slaves. He had strong faith and he believed in it very much. John did all of the things he did because he believed that God gave him his duty. He wanted to fight for slave freedom because he believed that slaves should be free and treated as equals.
While William Lloyd Garrison described John Brown’s actions as misguided and wild, John Brown was turned into a martyr in the North. The South were enraged by it all, and entered a brief time of fear of slave insurrection, similar to the reaction of Nat Turner’s rebellion. After realizing that no slaves had joined John Brown, southerners were relieved and felt like their claims that slaves were happy were confirmed. John Brown’s raid ultimately ended up enraging southerners and emboldened their pro-slavery way of life, along with inspiring northerners to join the abolitionist movement. Although much less impactful than the Civil War itself, John Brown’s attempted slave revolt, along with an abundance of other factors, helped lead the nation into breaking out in Civil War about eighteen months
I think John Brown was a hero, because he tried to find ways to free slaves. Even though he killed people or got people killed in the process, he still was trying his best to help free slaves. Supplying the slaves with weapons was a good idea, but did not turn out they way he wanted. Everyone messes up, but he still had this plan to try and help free slaves.
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.
John Brown was a man with a strong hatred for slavery who tried to lead a rebellion against it. After this he was called a “misguided fanatic” by Abraham Lincoln. Which leaves the question, was John Brown a “misguided fanatic”? I think John Brown was a misguided fanatic, or according to dictionary.com a, mistaken person with an extreme, uncritical enthusiasm, because he was so set in his rebellion that his mind couldn’t be changed even when told his plan wouldn’t go well, and although he was told his actions would be fatal he went on to do so . In The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass, Douglass states that there was no changing Brown
George Fitzhugh claimed that "The Negro slaves of the South are the happiest the freest people in the world." (Document H). John Brown a major person in the fight to end slavery "led a band of 18 men into Virginia to seize the federal arsenal there, distribute the captured arms to slaves in the area, and create a general slave uprising." (Document I).John Brown was executed and the aftermath of his death made tensions rise betwwen the North and South. "
John Brown was an ordinary man that committed sinful deeds and justified them with religion. John Brown’s actions at Pottawatomie Creek and Harper’s Ferry were not justified; his actions today would define him as a modern day terrorist. Terrorism is when one or more persons threaten others for various reasons. John Brown displayed terrorism in many ways. One way would be the innocent civilians he murdered to obtain what he wanted.
A common controversy in American history is the fact that Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves. Many claim that he freed them with the Emancipation Proclamation but it’s more complex than that. There were many events that helped free slaves and the Emancipation was only a small portion of America’s journey to freedom and “equality”. In reality, Lincoln helped the process of freeing the slaves but, he did not do it himself. Lincoln was not an abolitionist.
Looking at what he has fought for, it’s no doubt that he fought for a noble cause which is the freedom of slavery. John Brown shouldn’t be known as hero or terrorists because of want he has done applies to both sides. John Brown shouldn’t be known as a terrorist or a national hero because of his violent attack and raids. After, September 11, 2001 John Brown has been called a terrorist which has caused controversy about Brown’s legacy and reputation. Furthermore, in the article, The 9/11 of 1859 says, “He led 21 men all but two in their 20s, and many of them radicalized by guerilla fighting in Bleeding Kansas, the abolitionists’ Afghanistan”(Horowitz).
John Brown was a key figure in the Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses used by slaves in the 19th century to escape to freedom in the North. Brown believed that slavery was a moral abomination and was willing to use violence to end it. He led a raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia in 1859 in an attempt to spark a slave rebellion. The raid failed, and Brown was captured and later executed. However, his actions helped to galvanize the abolitionist movement and ultimately contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War.
I agree with John Brown. I do not believe that a peaceful and nonviolent solution existed. This is for one of many reasons. The first of which, is that people are greedy. The Southern plantation owners loved their way of living.
