JOHN BROWNJOHN BROWN

Harper’s Ferry Harper’s Ferry

Martyr or Madman?Martyr or Madman?

How would you describe How would you describe him?him?

VocabularyVocabulary

EmancipationEmancipation ArsenalArsenal TreasonTreason antebellumantebellum MartyrMartyr GuerillaGuerilla

BackgroundBackground

1812: John,12, is witness to a slave being brutally beaten 1812: John,12, is witness to a slave being brutally beaten with a shovelwith a shovel

1820;1833 Marries, fathers 17 children1820;1833 Marries, fathers 17 children

1836 moves to Ohio and is an Underground Railroad Station 1836 moves to Ohio and is an Underground Railroad Station MasterMaster

His calling from God to free the slaves.His calling from God to free the slaves.

Poor business man; bankruptPoor business man; bankrupt

Gets financial backing from business men to support anti-Gets financial backing from business men to support anti-slavery activitiesslavery activities

1851 begins to plan attack at Harper’s 1851 begins to plan attack at Harper’s Ferry Arsenal. Attacking federal arsenal Ferry Arsenal. Attacking federal arsenal is an attack on the government.is an attack on the government.

1856 Brown directs murder of 5 1856 Brown directs murder of 5 proslavery men at Pottawatomie Creek. proslavery men at Pottawatomie Creek. Bleeding KSBleeding KS

Kansas is a “free” state. His mission is Kansas is a “free” state. His mission is fulfilled. Sets his sights on Virginia- fulfilled. Sets his sights on Virginia- biggest slave state in the Union.biggest slave state in the Union.

Southerners misread Brown’s extremism Southerners misread Brown’s extremism as typical of the feelings of most as typical of the feelings of most northern abolitionists…..setting the northern abolitionists…..setting the stage.stage.

1859. July. Brown arrives in Harper’s Ferry. He rents the Kennedy Farmhouse.

August. Meets with Frederick Douglass in Chambersburg, PA to discuss if violence is the slave’s ticket to freedom.

“When I strike,” Brown said, “ the bees will begin to swarm, and I shall need your help to hive them.”

Does Douglass agree with John?

His plan was to arm slaves and drive southward into Tennessee and Alabama, raiding federal arsenals and inciting slave insurrections. He hoped to ignite a sectional crisis that would destroy slavery.

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The RaidThe RaidOctober 16, 1859October 16, 1859

Seized the arsenal with 21 men. Seized the arsenal with 21 men. Sent out men for hostages and to liberate Sent out men for hostages and to liberate

slaves. One free slave is shot as he tries to slaves. One free slave is shot as he tries to get away.get away.

Baggage master of train is shot so news Baggage master of train is shot so news doesn’t get to D.C.doesn’t get to D.C.

Church bell warns townspeople. They cut off Church bell warns townspeople. They cut off his escape route. Trap Brown in armory. Angry his escape route. Trap Brown in armory. Angry mobmob

2 days later, US marines arrive under the 2 days later, US marines arrive under the command of Lt. Col. Robert E. Lee.command of Lt. Col. Robert E. Lee.

Marines storm the building. Brown is captured.Marines storm the building. Brown is captured.

GUILTYGUILTY CONSPIRACYCONSPIRACY

MURDERMURDER

TREASONTREASON

Sentence to hang in public!Sentence to hang in public!

Final wordsFinal words

““If it is deemed necessary that I If it is deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the should forfeit my life for the furtherance of the ends of justice and furtherance of the ends of justice and mingle my blood with the blood of mingle my blood with the blood of millions in this slave country whose millions in this slave country whose rights are disregarded by wicked, rights are disregarded by wicked, cruel and unjust enactments, I say cruel and unjust enactments, I say let it be done.”let it be done.”

Northerners reactionNortherners reaction

Some hailed Brown as hero.Some hailed Brown as hero. Wm. Lloyd Garrison announced that Wm. Lloyd Garrison announced that

Brown’s death had convinced him of Brown’s death had convinced him of the need for violence to end slavery.the need for violence to end slavery.

Lincoln & Douglass did not support Lincoln & Douglass did not support Brown’s tactics.Brown’s tactics.

Southerners reactionSoutherners reaction

Believed that majority of north Believed that majority of north wanted to free slaves and incite a wanted to free slaves and incite a race warrace war

Believed that secession and creation Believed that secession and creation of slaveholding confederacy were of slaveholding confederacy were now the south’s only options.now the south’s only options.

Believed that it was the first act in Believed that it was the first act in the grand tragedy of emancipation.the grand tragedy of emancipation.

Madman or Martyr?Madman or Martyr?

Within the lawWithin the law Outside the lawOutside the law