Back in Time...
John Brown's Raid
Events
- On October 16, 1859, John Brown along with 21 men (5 blacks and 16 whites), raided the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry.
- Brown had hopes the local slave population would join the cause to start a war in the state of Virginia.
- Robert E. Lee arrived along with the U.S Marines at the engine house where they staying and quickly killed and captured many of the raiders.
- John Brown was captured and put on trail for treason against the state of Virginia, murder, and slave insurrection.
- He was sentenced to death and was hanged on Deecmber 2, 1859.
Robert E. Lee vs John Brown
U.S Marines under the command of Robert E. Lee try to get in the house where John Brown and his men were trapped on Oct. 18, 1859. www.britannica.com
John Brown
Was born in a religious family in Torrington, Connecticut, in 1800. He believed slavery was wrong, gave land to fugitive slaves, adopt a black youth, participated in the Underground Railroad, and helped establish the League of Gileadites. www.nps.gov
John Brown's Hanging
John Brown was executed on December 2, 1859. Before he was hanged her wrote a long note and handed it to his jailer. www.civilwarscholars.com
Effects
John Brown's raid sparked up controversy and a huge debate over the issue of slavery. He left and "enduring" legacy. On the day of his death many abolitionists hailed John Brown and church bells in the Northern cities rang. The event of his execution led to a controversy between Republicans and Democrats . Twenty-Two years after his death, Frederick Douglas still remembered him on one of his speeches.