Bell Ringer

• Who was John Brown? What do you remember about his actions in Kansas?

• How did William Lloyd Garrison and John Brown differ in their approach to ending slavery?

• Do you think slavery could still end with laws or non-violence? Why or why not?

John Brown• Believed armed rebellion was the

only way to bring an end to slavery• Pottawatomie massacre, Brown

defended actions saying the goal was to “strike terror into the hearts of the Pro-slavery party”

• Unsuccessful raid on Harper’s Ferry

Brown was considered a “fanatical abolitionist” because he turned to violence to end slavery

John Brown's "fort" at Harper's Ferry. On Sunday, October 16, 1859, with a raiding party of 18 men, Brown managed to seize the federal arsenal, armory, and a rifle works, but within two days was forced to surrender. His final refuge before giving himself up was

this fire station.

Think about SLAVERY in VIRGINIA…

• What might be some possible problems with John Brown’s plan to incite slaves to revolt in the surrounding countryside of an industrial town in Virginia?

The locale of John Brown's raid, Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, around 1856

The Surrender

• Local militia had Brown’s group pinned in• Brown sent one of his sons out to negotiate

under a white flag of truce…he was shot and killed

• President Buchanan sent Colonel Robert E. Lee when he heard of the insurrection from a train conductor (since the telegraph was cut)

An illustration entitled "Capture of John Brown (1800-1859) in the Engine House," depicting federal troops entering the arsenal at Harpers Ferry, which was defended by John Brown's men.

The arraignment of John Brown before the Federal court at Charles Town, West Virginia. Brown refused to plead guilty to insanity as a defense at his trial, and in his final speech attacking

slavery, became a martyr for the abolitionist cause. He was hanged for treason on December 2, 1859. Brown's actions polarized both northerners and southerners, and brought the nation to the

brink of war. Image by J. E. Taylor, 1899.

Final Outcome

• 10 of Brown’s men killed, including his 2 sons• 7 were captured• A few escaped

• All 7 captured were tried, convicted and executed

Adding to the hysteria…• News reports like the New York Times Herald

called the event the “Extensive Negro Conspiracy” added to the hysteria

Video

• http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=5A8888F7-8474-435E-84C7-B45FB65FEC86&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US

John Brown: Martyr or Terrorist?Martyr – someone who dies for a cause

Terrorist – someone who uses violence to strike fear into enemy

• Do you strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree with John Brown’s actions? Defend your position in 4 lines

How should Americans

remember me?

Song - John Brown’s Body

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSSn3NddwFQ

• An American marching song about the abolitionist John Brown

• The song was popular in the Union during the American Civil War