Who was John Brown? What role did he play in the Civil War?

Who was John Brown?Who was John Brown?

What role did he play What role did he play in the Civil War? in the Civil War?

Saint or Sinner?Saint or Sinner?

What was his goal & plan?What was his goal & plan?

Lead a slave revolt that would end Lead a slave revolt that would end slaveryslavery

Break into the Federal Armory in Break into the Federal Armory in Harpers Ferry, Virginia to get the Harpers Ferry, Virginia to get the weapons necessary for his holy warweapons necessary for his holy war

Why Harpers Ferry?Why Harpers Ferry?

Nine thousand rifles Nine thousand rifles More than enough bullets and More than enough bullets and

ammunitionammunition One of only two places where the US One of only two places where the US

govt. manufactured riflesgovt. manufactured rifles Located in a slave state – Virginia Located in a slave state – Virginia

(now West Virginia).(now West Virginia).

One of 1,000 Pikes made One of 1,000 Pikes made for John Brown and for John Brown and

brought to Harpers Ferrybrought to Harpers Ferry

Why would he bring pikes when there over Why would he bring pikes when there over 9,000 rifles and plenty of ammunition at the 9,000 rifles and plenty of ammunition at the

Armory?Armory?

Harpers Ferry 1862Harpers Ferry 1862

Harpers Ferry 1865 – Federal Harpers Ferry 1865 – Federal ArsenalArsenal

What happened?What happened? Attacked middle of the nightAttacked middle of the night Quickly overpowered the Quickly overpowered the oneone guard guard Surprised by a train – shot and killed the man who Surprised by a train – shot and killed the man who

got off (ironically a free black man)got off (ironically a free black man) Held train for a couple of hours and then let it Held train for a couple of hours and then let it

continue on (sounded warning)continue on (sounded warning) Church bells sounded alarm – militia and armed Church bells sounded alarm – militia and armed

farmers kept Brown penned down until US Army farmers kept Brown penned down until US Army showed up (led by Robert E. Lee).showed up (led by Robert E. Lee).

Quick battle – Brown captured, most of his men Quick battle – Brown captured, most of his men were killed.were killed.

Tried & hungTried & hung

U.S. Troops in actionU.S. Troops in action

Wagon that carried John Wagon that carried John Brown to the gallows.Brown to the gallows.

So what?So what?

““I John Brown am now quite I John Brown am now quite certain that the crimes of this certain that the crimes of this

guilty land will never be guilty land will never be purged away, but by blood”purged away, but by blood”

Note he gave his jailer on his way to be Note he gave his jailer on his way to be hung.hung.

What is the artist trying to portray in this picture of John Brown?

What did his raid and the “actions” of the government and north say to Virginia and the other slave states?

Would John Brown have considered his raid a “success”?

What did his raid say the people living in the North?

What did his raid “prove”?

Was he a “Saint” or a Was he a “Saint” or a “Sinner”?“Sinner”?

Does the “end” justify the Does the “end” justify the means?means?