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The abolitionist movements full free essay
Research about the abolitionist movement
Research about the abolitionist movement
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Treason, the act betraying one’s country or attempt to overthrow the government. John Brown did no such thing as a peaceful approach would gain nothing. Document B: Last Meeting Between Frederick Douglass and John Brown; Although the plan to attack a Federal Arsenal was “a measure to be fatal” according to Frederick Douglass. Despite the fact of taking the peculiar measures to end slavery, Brown still went through with his plans. When Brown and his men were either killed or captured people had mixed thoughts and feelings toward them.
He brutally kills many innocent people just because they are in his way. Although John Brown tries to end slavery, which is a good deed, he does use violence, and murder people who are innocent; therefore, John Brown is guilty of murder, treason, and insurrections. John Brown not only starts a very violent insurrection, almost like a war. He also brutally murders people who are just in his way. Insurrection means a violent uprising against authority.
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
(Document F) Since he lied about almost everything, that is another reason to believe he is a villain. Even though he was facing death, he could have told the truth and tried to tone it down, not lie about everything. He also ended up saying something that would be completely contradicted in a later letter to his friend. Finally, he tried to start a revolt/civil war. In document G and H, it proves that John Brown WAS trying to start a revolt, despite what he said in F. He said, in a letter to his friend, that he “wanted to put the slaves in a condition to defend liberties” (Document G), which translates to putting the slaves in a place where they can fight back, or in other words, he was supplying them with
John Brown was a good man. He fought for what he believed in and he had good intentions. Brown did the things he did to help free slaves. John Brown was not a terrorist. He was a freedom fighter.
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.
John Brown should be considered a traitor for three reasons, he killed five people, he led a revolt, and he armed slaves. The first reason, John Brown killed five people. He, in cold blood killed 5 white men in a field for what? Owning slaves?
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 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. "
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).
In the United States, during the eighteen-hundreds’, a small group of people believed that slavery was immoral and did many things to abolish it. John Brown, a Caucasian male who was part of this group of people, did two things that many people in United States history didn’t have the passion to do. John Brown’s life was very interesting: His early life and transition to adulthood, his decision to fight for the cause, his actions of violence in Kansas and Harper’s Ferry, along with, the long-lasting effects of these actions led to his hanging. These events were pivotal to the beginning of the Civil War. “John Brown was born in Torrington, Connecticut, on May 9, 1800, five months after the death of George Washington”(Marrin,7).
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).
His intention was to arm slaves with weapons from the arsenal, but no slaves came to his calling and the raid was put to rest by Colonel Robert E. Lee and his marines. These acts of treason are what made John Brown a important figure back then. He tried a different approach to having slaves freed but in the end it back fired and cost him and some of his kids their lives. Some people say he was a hero because he stood up to the south bulling of slaves but others say he was a terrorist because he killed innocent people based on their
Through his writings, Brown tells us he had no doubt in his intentions being for the better, choosing to ignore these lives lost as they didn’t serve to further his cause. Scott John Hammond tell us about John Brown’s calculated nature by comparing him to Machiavellian philosophies, a philosophy associated with the use of power in often ruthless means, “Given the fact that all founders and reformers will inevitably encounter resistance from those enemies … Machiavelli notes that a lawgiver … must go forth armed and prepared for struggle” and “A founder is consonant with the idea of virtue, or grandeur of soul - a character of extraordinary proportions, defined in terms of “ingenuity, skill, and excellence.”
