John Brown: Abolitionist Essay Example

men finding safe places for slaves to hide and discreetly transporting them there. Once one hundred slaves were gathered, the bravest would form an army while others could leave freely. Brown discussed this plan with Frederick Douglass, who deemed it a steel-trap with no chance of survival. Though he abandoned the plan, Brown continued strategizing for the abolition movement and relocated his family to Kansas after the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854.Upon their arrival, violence erupted as pro-slavery groups made efforts to intimidate those advocating against slavery. While some residents, like the Doyle family, supported slavery but refrained from engaging in violent activities, others welcomed pro-slavery groups into their homes. However, in 1856, during one night of aggression, Border Ruffians captured and attacked the Lawrence settlement. Their main targets were the press of a Free-soil newspaper and the destruction of homes. This incident provoked anger among Brown and his supporters. Consequently, Brown organized a nocturnal mission accompanied by four of his sons and two followers with the intention to mercilessly murder members of the Doyle family and their neighbors. This brutal act became known as the Pottawatomie Massacre which resulted in five deaths. The occurrence marked the beginning of an intense conflict between factions supporting or opposing slavery characterized by fierce battles and guerrilla warfare tactics.

As a result, Brown's group - named the Pottawatomie Rifles - was pursued as criminals while simultaneously becoming emblematic figures for Kansas' anti-slavery movement. In 1857, they received financial support from a collective known as "Secret Six." This group consisted of Thomas Wentworth Higgins, Samuel Gridley Howe, Theodore Parker, Franklin Benjamin Sanborn,
Gerrit Smith,and George Luther Stearns; all individuals

deeply involved in abolitionism who shared Brown's conviction that peaceful means would not end slavery.Initially intending to target citizens in Kansas, Brown made the decision to invade Harpers Ferry in Virginia in 1859. Even his most loyal volunteers recognized the overwhelming odds against them and feared that Southern states would mobilize their troops to join forces with the government against Brown. This fear led many of his followers to abandon him just before raiding the Harpers Ferry armory, which was owned by the U.S. Government. Brown believed that he could seize the armory and unite enslaved African Americans there for their liberation. The plan involved using weapons from the armory against local residents alongside a large group of slaves and Brown's followers.

On October 16, 1859, the raid on Harpers Ferry commenced with Brown leading a group that included his sons Oliver and Watson. Reports falsely indicated a larger group of attackers, but government forces swiftly arrived and caught Brown off guard. The local militia joined forces with the government, preventing Owen (Brown's son) from bringing reinforcements as planned. Despite anxiously waiting for backup that never came, Brown found himself unable to escape by around 7 AM when Thomas Overly, a resident near High and Shenandoah streets, was shot and killed - marking the first casualty of the raid.

By 2 PM, it became clear to Brown that escaping was impossible. A volunteer exited with a white flag requesting a ceasefire but ended up being taken prisoner while Ana (presumably another follower) was locked up; Watson followed suit but was immediately shot down upon stepping out. Both sides suffered casualties as shooting continued.Eventually, Oliver and Watson were

discovered deceased next to each other. When night fell, only four men remained alive. On the morning of October 18th, troops forcefully entered the armory door and swiftly defeated Brown's men within three minutes. Brown clarified that his reason for raiding the armory was solely to liberate slaves. Due to their violent acts advocating for abolition, Brown and his remaining followers were incarcerated. Government officials acknowledged that even in jail, Brown posed a threat. As he was escorted to prison, conversations about him and Harpers Ferry spread throughout the nation due to his unwavering opposition to slavery. The officials expedited his trial for October 25, 1859, leaving Brown with limited time to recover or prepare a defense. His only chance relied on gaining public sympathy. On October 26th, both Brown and his comrades faced charges of murder and conspiracy in plotting a slave rebellion. On October 31st, they were found guilty by the jury and sentenced to death. In his final speech during the trial, Brown confessed to employing violence in pursuit of justice but asserted that he did not feel remorseful about it.On December 2nd, 1859, John Brown met his demise as punishment for his fight against slavery.He became both an emblem of freedom and a catalyst for the Civil War.Despite being a father as well as engaging in criminal activities,his primary reputation rested upon being an impassioned abolitionist who devoted his entire life towards eradicating slavery until its ultimate demiseAlthough John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry did not directly achieve its goal of abolishing slavery, it served as an inspiration for future generations to take action against it. The perception of Brown varied

between Northern and Southern states. Northerners regarded him as a martyr, while Southerners believed that the North sought to eradicate slavery alongside them. This issue brought the nation to the brink of a fierce war, with Brown's execution sparking a response in the North through church bells ringing. Following his death, New Englanders commemorated him by singing songs about him. Ultimately, after the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation which freed all slaves. Regardless of personal opinions, John Brown played a crucial leadership role in the fight against abolition.