...without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22 ESV). John Brown was a terrorist, he killed many people because he thought violence was the only way to solve the slave issue and he stole the slaves from their owners. John Brown was a terrorist because he thought that the only way to solve slavery was violence, he killed innocent people, and used his family to help him with murdering people. Historical Background John Brown was born, May 9, 1800, in Connecticut and later on lived in Ohio as a child. When he got older he married Dianthe on June 21, 1820. John Brown jr., Jason Brown, Owen Brown, Frederick Brown, Ruth Brown, Frederick Brown (again),...
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...Dear David, In my opinion, John Brown is neither a Hero nor a Terrorist. He is a man who fought on what he believe is true. He stood for what he think is right and that drove him to do things even if that means killing people in the process. John Brown has the right mindset of pursuing racial equality and to free the slaves. However, I do not agree in the way he tried to handle the situation he was given. I truly believe that he is a good person and wanted to make a difference in their time, I just don’t approve with the unnecessary killing what he had done to those five people that was murdered at Pottawatomie. We can apply one of Robert McNamara’s lessons to justify John Brown’s action at Pottawatomie with “In order to be good, you may have to engage in evil.” Feeling as if he was a complete failure and that of someone who has nothing left to lose, John Brown is willing to do whatever it is for the purpose of his cause. I can understand why he thought that killing these people is justified since at the time, all that things that support his cause seems to be falling like when the free-state men of Lawrence fell to the hundreds of armed border ruffians. Another is when the abolitionist Senator Charles Sumner was almost beaten to death with a cane while working at the senate floor. John Brown felt as if it was an attack by the South to further hinder his cause to free the slaves. The Pottawatomie Massacre ignited an all-out war in Kansas where one of his sons...
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...A lot of great nations have rich history of their own, whether it is bad or it is good. The United States of America has great history and tradition, from the Revolutionary War to the occupation of Afghanistan. When people who write about history discuss that of the United States, they often consider how eminent this country is and the great deeds other people of that country have done. Historians who write about the history of America often write about how it has had a share of great heroes from Christopher Columbus, Woodrow Wilson, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, etc.. Nevertheless, historians often seem to not remember to mention the real heroes of America like, for example, John Brown and the Native Americans. Much of the history that historians write about don't always show precision. Since many historians only write about one side of history, it only makes it worse by not revealing the factuality of history and creates an erroneous image of what really took place. Many of our nation's great leaders have been distinguished as individuals who have the best interest of the country and every action they take on behalf of the country befittingly. For instance, in the book, Lies My Teacher Told Me, by James Loewen, he writes, "Under [president] Wilson, the United States intervened in Latin America more often than at any other time in our history." (Loewen, 16). What reason did the United States have to start an intervention in countries that...
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...History to 1877 The Role of John Brown in the Civil War You know how they say for every action there is an equal reaction, well that holds very true in John Brown’s case. For every action he took against slavery there was an equal reaction, or a far worse reaction from his opponents (pro-slavery supporters). What led John Brown to his actions in trying to end slavery? What was the equal or far worse reaction from his pro-slavery opponents? This first action was not taken by John Brown but by Congress and the action was not anti-slavery but pro-slavery the action was The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, was passed by the United States Congress on September 18th 1850, as part of the Compromise of 1850 between Southern slave-holding interests and Northern free soils. This was one of the most controversial acts of the 1850 compromise and heightened Northern fears of a slave rebellion. It declared that all runaway slaves were, upon capture, to be returned to their owners/masters. Abolitionists nicknamed it the "Bloodhound Law" for the dogs that were used to track down runaway slaves. After this was passed by Congress, there was an equal reaction on part of John Brown, he founded a militant group to prevent the capture of runaway slaves, and he called it The League of Gileadites. In the Bible the Mount Gilead was the place where only the bravest of Israelites would gather together to face an invading enemy. Brown on leaving Springfield in 1850, Brown instructed the League of Gileadites...
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... 2015 Arguments in regard of John Brown NO John Brown was an ardent abolitionist who felt that it was his sacred duty to end slavery. He strongly believed that slavery can only be ended using a violent way of actions. In 1856, he along with his sons, used machetes and broad swords to murder pro-slavery men to death at Pottowattami Creek. They dragged unarmed men and sons to the streets and killed them. On October 1859, Brown and twenty-one followers seized the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Their intent was to take rifles and start massive insurrection of slavery and eventually spread it among the nation. However, when the raid started not a lot of people were willing to join the rebellion so Brown led a small army of 18 men. Brown didn’t even know what is the next step and didn’t have any escape road, he literally led his men including his four sons to a death road. Brown’s main intent was to seize slaves for the rebellion, although he denied it. John Brown was seen as a terrorist and his violent actions led to the American Civil War. Even though his believes proclaimed a righteous intent his actions were not supporting such way of thinking. He killed lots of men and was going to keep doing so until all four million slaves are going to be freed. But that could not have happened because people couldn't set their minds and couldn't believe that white men is equal to black. This believe was counted as insane and John brown was considered as crazy and violent...
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...Midnight Risings: John Brown and the Raid that Sparked the Civil War Written by Tony Horwitz, Midnight Risings: John Brown and the Raid that Sparked the Civil War is a captivating book that allows the reader to portray the life of John Brown an abolitionist who, a year before the Civil War began, managed to invade the South in hopes of ending slavery. Through the themes of courage and self-sacrifice, the reader is able to realize how committed John Brown was to his cause of ending slavery. Born in May 9, 1800, John was a descendant from puritans as well as known revolutionary soldiers. After the loss of his mother at a very young age not only did he become awkward around women but also followed the footsteps of his father. At the age of 20...
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...John Nix Kevin Thomas Harrel His 105 Section 28 8 December 2009 The Formation of the Confederacy: An Inevitable Occurrence When looking at the history of the United States it is necessary to look at our past in two separate halves: the first half being everything before the Civil War and the second half being everything after the Civil War. With this being said, it can be reasonably argued that the Civil War is one of the most critical events to every happen in our country’s rich history. The devastating war took over half a million American lives in just a little over four years. This tragic event in history, up until Vietnam, claimed more American lives than any other war (Rubin 11). In hindsight it is clear that this war should have been avoided at all cost but during the late 1800’s the tension was so high and hostile that the war was inevitable. Sectionalism had increased so much during that period that even citizens thought of their country divided into two halves, being the North and the South. Each section considered themselves as right and proper while the other as ridiculous and wrong. These tensions kept building until the thought of secession became not a question of if but rather a question of when. According to Cole C. Kingseed, author of The American Civil War, the seeds of the Civil War can be planted as early as the Constitutional Convention of 1787. By the time of the convention five states had already abolished slavery, which made the southern states...
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...plantation, killing whites and setting blacks free. The rebellion was eventually put down by local militia and federal troops. Over 200 blacks were killed, many of whom had not taken part. In the aftermath of the rebellion slaves codes through the country were significantly strengthened (as we saw in the Slave Code Presentations). The Mexican American War (1846-1847) The United States’s victory in the Mexican American war only exacerbated its internal problems. Although the territory wasn’t yet important politically, it inflamed tensions by pushing the issue of new states and territory to forefront of political discussion. It was especially significant because the conquered land was below the line drawn by the Missouri Act of 1820. Abolitionists, who had previously thought slavery was going to be contained, now had to deal with the possibility of more slave states. The Compromise of 1850 The compromise of 1850 calmed many of the tensions brought on by victory...
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...Harriet Tubman Biography From Slavery to Freedom: Underground Railroad Conductor, Abolitionist, Women's Rights Advocate by Jone Johnson Lewis [Harriet Tubman] tried to persuade her brothers to escape [slavery] with her, but ended up leaving alone, making her way to Philadelphia, and freedom. Harriet Tubman Courtesy Library of Congress The year after Harriet Tubman's [arrival in the North, she decided to return to Maryland to free her sister and her sister's family. Over the next 12 years, she returned 18 or 19 more times, bringing a total of more than 300 slaves out of slavery. Harriet Tubman's organizing ability was key to her success -- she had to work with supporters on the clandestine Underground Railroad, as well as get messages to the slaves, since she met them away from their plantations to avoid detection. They usually left on a Saturday evening, as the Sabbath might delay anyone noticing their absence for another day, and if anyone did note their flight, the Sabbath would certainly delay anyone from organizing an effective pursuit or publishing a reward. Harriet Tubman was only about five feet tall, but she was smart and she was strong -- and she carried a long rifle. She used the rifle not only to intimidate pro-slavery people they might meet, but also to keep any of the slaves from backing out. She threatened any who seemed like they were about to leave, telling them that "dead Negroes tell no tales." A slave who returned from one of these trips could betray...
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...so brilliant and perfect it appears they were painted, Harpers Ferry is most known for its history. In fact, from its humble beginnings involving George Washington to through the 1800’s, Harpers Ferry was a town crucial to the nation. John Brown’s raid on the town, Harpers Ferry’s famed Armory, and the battle that took place there were extremely significant leading up to and in the...
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...Tony Horwitz graduated from Brown University and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. His book, Midnight Rising is presented in a way where from the beginning of his life John Brown was “destined” to lead the raid on the armory. He portrays this by not jumping right into the raid itself, but what actually lead up to the raid. Horowitz’s depiction of Brown is that of someone who stood up for what they believed in. John Brown was born on May 9th, 1800, in Torrington, Connecticut to two very Calvinist parents. From a very young age he was taught that slavery was wrong; something that would fuel his efforts to become an abolitionist later in his life, something many Calvinists during this time believed, “In the eighteenth century, Calvinist Ministers began...
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...1850, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Bleeding Kansas, and John Brown’s Raid. The Missouri Compromise was in 1820, after the Louisiana Purchase. As time went on after the Louisiana Purchase, the Congress decided that it...
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...Western territories would be slave or free. Under the terms of the Compromise, slavery would only be allowed in Missouri and south of the 36th parallel. The need for the Missouri Compromise illustrates how the North and the South were beginning to hold very different views on how allowable slavery was to the nation. Bitter feelings about the compromise persisted in both the North and the South. 1828 The Nullification Crisis The Nullification Crisis grew out of a protective tariff of 1828. The tariff was popular with the Northern states, because it provided protection for American made goods. Southern states traded heavily with Great Britain during this time, and felt it would damage their economies. With the support of Vice-President John C. Calhoun, South Carolina passed the Ordinance of Nullification. It stated South Carolina did not have to abide by the tariff, because the tariff was unconstitutional. It looked like force might be used by the national government against South Carolina, but instead the national government reached a compromise with South Carolina. There are strong parallels between...
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...Tiffany Myers Professor Russo English 202B April 30, 2013 To Define a Man Such as John Brown It has been over one hundred and fifty years since John Brown and his army of twenty men swooped into Harpers Ferry, trying to execute their plan that was plotted in secret and launched in the dark. Since those fateful two days and the following executions many have posed the question: how should they remember John Brown? Was he a bloodthirsty zealot, a vigilante, a terrorist, or a madman? Or was he one of the great heroes of American history, a freedom fighter and martyr to the cause of human liberty? Or was he a prophet foretelling what was to befall the nation? Many people have since stated their opinions, such as Thoreau who calls John Brown a Christ figure, yet we still debate this topic and have no one clear definite answer. After reading some of the information about John Brown I believe him to be a combination of terrorist, martyr, and prophet. Not only does he fulfill the definitions of each label, but there are many examples to support them as well. John Brown was a man who willingly met death and sacrificed himself for his belief in ending slavery. He was also a man not afraid or easily cowed by the use of violence to bring about political change. A terrorist is a person who uses violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims(“terrorist” def. 1) John Brown uses violence multiple times in his pursuit to end slavery. Not only did he use it at Harper’s...
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...men marched its way down Essex and Beacon streets, it was met with overwhelming resemblance to a march completed 30 years prior by the pride of the abolitionist movement, the Massachusetts Fifty-fourth volunteer regiment – the first colored regiment in United States history. Interesting, survivors of the Massachusetts Fifty-fourth were present during the parade and unveiling August Saint-Gauden’s masterpiece sculpture. The parade followed the similar path They gathered on the corner of Boston Common in front of the State house to welcome a structure erected in honor of the selfless deeds performed by the young Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and his brave black comrades of the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment during their assault upon Fort Wagner, South Carolina in July of 1863. Massachusetts Governor Roger Wolcott reviewed the parade at the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Dartmouth Street, after which the Governor and distinguished quests were escorted to the memorial. Upon reaching the monument,...
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