John Brown killed many innocent people who did not own slaves. According to document E, on November 20th, 1859, Mahala Doyle expressed her anger towards John Brown. John Brown deliberately shot two of her sons and her husband because they were pro-slavery, even though they did not own slaves and weren’t ever going to own them. This shows that John Brown is a villain because he killed almost a whole family that did not own slaves, all because they were pro-slavery.
John Brown was a villain because he killed innocent men, abused power and money given to him, and kidnapped two men. “He was not only a murderer of innocent persons, but he attempted one of the greatest crimes against society -- the stirring up of a servile and civil war.” (Document H, Our Harper’s Ferry and Charleston News) John Brown was an abolitionist who thought that slavery should end at any cost. He was hanged for treason in 1859 when he took his acts too far. To this day there is still controversy on whether or not he was a hero or villain based on the difference between his acts and intentions.
John Brown Hero or Villain The story of John Brown happened many years ago, yet it still puzzles historians today. John Brown was an anti-slave abolitionist who was put to death after pleading guilty of murder, but is he considered a hero or a villain? John Brown is a villain for three simple reason, he murdered many different people, he attacked a federal arsenal, and he could be considered a terrorist. The first reason John Brown is a villain is because he murdered many different people.
John Brown Did you know that John Brown planned to use slaves in a revolt at Harper Ferry? John Brown was an abolitionist who wanted to put an end to slavery. But he came across many obstacles in the process of removing slavery. During this time slavery was a very serious topic and would create fights against people and states. John Brown was a villain in my opinion because he killed three men, lied in court, then told the truth once he knew he was sentenced to death, and freed slaves and gave them weapons just so he could start a revolt at Harpers Ferry.
Today some people would say that John Brown is a terrorist, and some people would might say he isn’t. The dictionary’s definition of a terrorist is, “A person who uses unlawful violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims”. An example of this would be if a man shot about 20 to 35 children because culturally diverse kids were all in the same school together, versus the shooting at Las Vegas. That man was shooting people just to shoot people. Which is why I would say John Brown isn’t a terrorist because, he only killed the slave owners.
Many people either think John Brown was a terrorist or a freedom fighter. There are many facts to show both. I believe Brown was a freedom fighter. Evidence Brown was a freedom fighter and not a terrorist. John Brown wanted to fight against slave owners.
John Brown was a murderer who shot three innocent family members. “...entered my house at midnight and arrested my husband and two boys and took them out of the yard and in cold blood shot them dead in my hearing, you can’t say you did it to free our slaves, we had none and never expected to own one...” (Mahala Doyle Document E). John Brown mentions in his speech during his trial that his ultimate goal was to abolish slavery without violence. However, the murder of three men with no interest in slaves does not fit that plan.
Many people believed he was a hero, but many others believed he was a villain. John Brown murdered many innocent people, committed treason, and used violence. On May 24th, 1856, John Brown led an attack on a pro-slavery settlement at Pottawomie. He killed and tortured five
John Brown, a radical abolitionist, in protest of the choice for popular sovereignty in the territories and angered by slave owners began to murder many of these non-abolitionists with little mercy or regard. He butchered many of them with longswords and did whatever he could to make their end as soon as he could. This was the first true attack on slavery. He then, with a small group raided Harpers Ferry in 1859. This was a military arsenal that he was trying to raid to create a slave insurrection within the South.
“I never intended murder or treason, or the destruction of property[...] or to make insurrection,” were the words of John Brown in 1859 before being sentenced to death. John Brown was a well-known abolitionist hoping to end slavery in the 1800s, using techniques many would deem brutal. However, he also had many allies willing to help him in any way to achieve his goal. There have been many debates on whether the strong-willed man should be considered a hero for trying to end slavery, or a criminal for using violent methods. John Brown was a villain because he was untrustworthy, his supporters disapproved of his actions, and his measures to end slavery were incredibly violent.
Lastly, we acknowledge the fact that he died to end slavery. John Brown raided Harpers Ferry, the home of the U.S. arsenal. His goal was to steal weapons from the arsenal to give to many slaves in hopes that they would revolt against their masters and other pro-slavery supporters. However, he and his followers were caught and later hanged for treason. With one speech at his trial and one letter sent after he was sentenced, John Brown didn’t try to escape or plead; he accepted his execution and died as a fierce martyr for all of the slaves and abolitionists (Documents F and G).
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.
John Brown, a hero in the eyes of Northern extremists, his actions supposedly justified by God and the lives of five people which he stole. When John Brown and group of supporters attacked Harpers Ferry that killed a total of five men, it caused a controversial conflict of impressions towards him to this today. Brown’s exact intentions for abolishing slavery is vaguely known, but being a white male with all his rights and privilege, why was John Brown was so passionate about ending slavery if it wasn’t affecting him? Regardless, John Brown ended up killing five different men, and caused terror amongst others, the amount of people killed does not differ the effects it has caused to others. While some see John Brown as a fighter, the use of
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).
Terrorism is the act of attacking a certain place or a person to get something out of it. Using modern features of terrorism John Browns actions on Pottawatomie Creek and Harpers Ferry, while unjustified define him as a terrorist. Using John Brown as an example of a terrorist. John Brown was born into a deeply religious family. Which lead him to becoming an abolitionist.
