John Brown was an American abolitionist who was very religious. He fought for the freedom of slaves which he believed can only happen by using violence. He was considered a hero in the North and a terrorist in the South. He attacked 5 defenseless men and dismembered their bodies just as you would butcher cattle. On October 16, 1859, he led a rebellion with 21 men – 5 blacks and 16 whites – against Virginia slavery, he attacked the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry but he was hurt and then captured, trailed, and before he was hanged on December 2, 1859 he stated, “… if it be deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the furtherance of the ends of justice, and mingle my blood further with the blood of my children, and with the blood of …show more content…
Or was he a cold blooded terrorist? There are two different points of view on whether John Brown was an irrational terrorist. The first point of view is by James N. Gilbert and he answers yes he was a terrorist. He also states, “John Brown’s actions conform to a modern definition of terrorist behavior in that Brown considered the United States incapable of reforming itself by abolishing slavery, believed that only violence would accomplish that goal, and justified his actions by proclaiming adherence to a higher power” (pg308). Some do not think of John Brown as a terrorist because of the massive evil of slavery at that time, but his actions of killing people based on his beliefs of being chosen by god and killing them in a vicious and heinous way and whether he used slavery as an excuse for his desire to kill for anger or victimized slaves by government violence and owners or for political issues, does not justify the killing. The second point of view is by, Bill Anderson who believes after we take a look at the causes and intentions of why he did it, we come to the conclusion that it is the terrorists selfish need for power and influence. Third point of view, is made by historian John Hubbell and he states, the reason John Brown chose violence was because of his unsettled resentment towards his father and so in a way his choice to free slaves from their vicious owners “… may have been the unconscious resolution of his anger” (pg312). The final …show more content…
Because of the evil acts and unjust laws that were made against the slaves by the American nation, John Brown is considered a hero. He was against slavery since he was a child, he fought against discrimination and oppression of slavery, he freed many slaves, and he gave them lands even though he was bankrupt. In addition, because of his religion he believed everyone should be loved and cared for. Therefore, the incident of Harpers Ferry in Kansas was because of his idea of universal freedom. He considered slave owners evil and so he came to the solution of killing them for their sin of slavery and offering them no sympathy for they did the same to their slaves. Another point of view, He was a crusader for social equality, which you have to put in mind that laws at that time were uneven. He saw discrimination and inequality, and so he wanted to change that. Although, he did pick brutal uprising over nonviolent rallies which may define him as a terrorist, he still chose to put his life in the line and he broke the law by giving guns to slaves: who were kidnapped from their homes, separated from their families, and forced to work, to fight for their freedom against there
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).
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.
By the end of the American Civil War, John Gordon was Robert E. Lee 's most trusted Confederate general. Brown was a leading secessionist in 1861, taking his state out of the union and into the Confederacy. He proved to be one of the most successful Generals in American history. Gordon also served as U.S. Senator twice and a governor of Georgia. In these positions, he was well liked by the people, despite being accused of being motivated by personal gain.
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
John Brown DBQ The federal government tried to silence the people! Some people saw Mr. John Brown as a, “misguided fanatic,” however I disagree. Brown was a hero for this nation and a wake up call towards the god resented sin of slavery. One reason he was not a misguided fanatic was thoroughly explained in, “John Brown’s Speech.”
Brown was hanged on December 2nd 1859. He gave those slaves hope that one day they will be free and he fought for his patient to make them free but violently.at the of his he made the country unite and be one without
John Brown was an abolitionist who believed armed insurrection was the only way to overcome slavery. His raid on Harpers Ferry would affect many people's views on slavery. He had done many other acts against slavery before the raid. Even though his raid was not a success, it still had an impact on the beginning of the civil war. Brown’s was a known abolitionist even before his raid on Harpers Ferry.
Tensions were high during the few years before the Civil War broke out in 1861, and there were many abolitionists during this time. One of the most well-known abolitionists was John Brown, who led a raid on Harpers Ferry armory on October 16th, 1859. The attack on the armory caused the citizens in America to take up sides in the fight against slavery. The biggest question about this raid is what caused John Brown to risk everything by attacking a federal armory? John Brown, was a man that opposed slavery with every chance he got.
He also went against the United States Government, by not using his representatives and protesting violently. So when he got hanged on December 2, 1859, his actions were justified. To start, John Brown was very violent, he used violence to reach his goals, which included a deadly raid where he killed two innocent people in Kansas Territory, by his actions this raid got the name of “Bleeding Kansas.” In the document: “John Brown- A Radical Murderer” it states that “ By 1859, Brown had a plan for reaching his goal of defeating slavery through Violence. He planned to use guns and other weapons that he captured at Harper’s Ferry to arm Virginian slaves.”
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.
By the time he got to his 50's, he saw that slavery was not going to end peacefully. This led to an obsession with the idea of serving justice to black people and slaves. John Brown figured that the only way for it to end was for him to go and use force on white slave owners, which consisted of him killing them or hurting them and forcing them to give up their slaves. During this obsession with anti slavery, Brown planned a slave uprising at Harper's Ferry. John Brown started plotting to raid the town of Harper's Ferry and seize guns from the federal armory.
Brown was born in Torrington, Connecticut, on May 9th, 1800, and he later died on December 2nd, 1859. He is most well known for his violent attempts to end slavery, like the instance of “Bleeding Kansas” in 1856. John Brown was said to have based his role in the abolition of slavery on his religious beliefs and values, as his faith greatly influenced him. When Brown was away from his family, he would frequently write letters to his wife-at-the-time, Mary Ann Day, and 20 children, explaining to them where he was, what he was doing, and most unbelievably, how he was remaining joyful and evermore faithful in the Lord. Brown wrote a letter to his family when he first discovered he was to be hung, and in his letter he wrote; “ I am, besides, quite cheerful, having (as I trust) "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding," to "rule in my heart," and the testimony (in some degree) of a good conscience that I have not lived altogether in vain.
John Brown played a pivotal role in pushing for the civil war to take place. The acts of terror he used caused tension between the slave traders, slave owners and those against the acts of slavery. He acted as the mobilizing agent who challenged those people who never supported slavery to stand by him and help end slavery in America by freeing them (Russo & Finkelman, 2005). His actions of killing those farmers who owned slaves and freeing the slaves agitated the slaving traders and owners, and in turn this led to the occurrence of the civil war between the anti-slavers and the slave owners. Therefore, this individual played the role of inciter and mobilizing agent for the anti-slave states to join in the fight for freedom of the black people.
John Brown was an individual that arose many strong opinions toward himself. There was many citizens, mostly Southerners that despised John Brown because of the inhuman and barbaric murders. The Northerners on the other hand, view Brown as a hero that risked his life to take away the lives of cruel slave owners. To them this was the kick start they needed to begin fighting in the anti- slavery movement. The North was disgusted with the South because they took Africans away from their homes in other countries, brought them to a different country and claimed them as their own.