John Brown

John Brown was a radical abolitionist from Connecticut whose actions against slavery and against the South played a significant role in starting the Civil War. Brown was born into a family with extreme abolitionist views which he carried with him throughout his life. These views were strengthened by events such as the slave revolt led by Nat Turner and the suppression of anti-slavery ideas and newspapers. Abolitionists, even in the North, were often in danger of being attacked by people who supported slavery and the murder of an abolitionist writer named Elijah Lovejoy was what initiated Brown’s lifelong campaign against slavery.

Although Brown was an abolitionist, his ideas were very different from the majority of his peers. While others believed in political and moral changes, Brown became convinced that the only way to solve this problem was through violence. He saw the refusal of Southern slaveholders to change their views and the lack of support from the government, as shown in the Dred Scott decision, both of which convinced him that no amount of political maneuvering could make the changes which he deemed necessary. Another reason Brown believed in using violence was because he began to see himself as God’s chosen champion to lead the crusade against slavery and therefore he could do no wrong because the actions which he took were God’s will.

At first, Brown began his campaign against slavery by assisting slaves in escaping through the Underground Railroad and by establishing and assisting organizations dedicated to helping runaway slaves. However, his means soon became more violent, starting with his response to the sacking of the anti-slavery town of Lawrence in Kansas. He and a group of 6 other men, including 4 of his sons, retaliated against the pro-slavery community by murdering 5 pro-slavery settlers in what would become known as the Pottawatomie Massacre. This massacre was one of the major factors which started the conflicts of Bleeding Kansas. Brown then followed this up with a raid in Missouri, killing a slave owner and freeing his 11 slaves. These events allowed Brown to build his reputation among Northern abolitionists. In addition, through his friend Franklin Sanborn, a well known and respected New England abolitionist, he was introduced to many other Northern abolitionists further developing his reputation.

After spending two and a half years gathering resources and manpower, Brown launched his infamous attack on the federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia with 21 other men. Brown’s plan was to arm slaves to lead a rebellion, but he was defeated by militia and U.S. Marines led by Robert E. Lee. When news spread, at first most Northern abolitionists saw him as insane and delusional. However, due to his many connections with respected Northerners like Sanford and the transcendentalists Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson, public opinion quickly shifted from considering him a madman to considering him a martyr. In particular, Thoreau delivered a speech, “A Plea for Captain John Brown,” defending the ideals which he fought for. Although at first the South believed his raid was not a major problem, the positive Northern view of Brown enraged them. Due to both the Northern view of Brown as a martyr and Brown’s financial backing from a few Northern abolitionists, the South became convinced that all abolitionists wished to use violent means to end slavery. They saw how the North treated Brown, a man who had threatened their way of life, as a hero, rapidly accelerating the South’s path to secession.

https://www.civilwar.org/learn/biographies/john-brown
https://www.civilwar.org/learn/articles/abolitionists-john-brown
http://www.history.com/topics/john-brown
http://www.historynet.com/john-brown