John Brown

John Brown- A Hero Or Villain? Essay What makes a hero or a villain? A hero is defined as a person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life. By this definition, there existed countless heroes in America during the 1800s with relation to slavery. There were many abolitionists, particularly from the North, that exhibited courageous attitudes. It was these heroes that taught the southerners, who believed their lives could only prevail if slavery survived and expanded westward, what they knew was morally right (3, 92). John Brown is one abolitionist who stands out amongst the rest and has been noted as one of the most important men in the process of abolishing slavery. It was Browns work that sparked the revolts and fighting that would occur between the North and the South after his time. Brown can be considered a hero on account of his actions in Kentucky and Virginia. After the Turner revolt, the topic of slavery took over American politics (3,91). Congressman David Wilmot suggested that legislation prohibit slavery in new territories that were conquered from the victory in a war with Mexico (3,91). Wilmot acted in hopes of stopping slaverys expansion westward but his movement did not pass with the Senate and was therefore disregarded (3,91). The Souths population was slowly becoming overshadowed by the Norths, leaving little room to stop anti-slavery legislation (3,91). When California was admitted as a free state in 1850, the US was left with no slave state to balance this addition and some southerners desired a separation of slave states from the union (3,92). Congressmen and senators started to fear their political opponents tremendously; tension was slowly building up (3,92). The Compromise of 1850 admitted California as a free state but also passed a law making it painless for slave-owners to recover their escaped slaves from free states (3, 92). Congress then passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act which allowed inhabitants to decide whether Kansas would be a free state or a slave state (3,92). In hopes of victory, the opposing sides invaded the territory which was after nick-named Bleeding Kansas by the easterners (3,92). This unsettled region would be the perfect setting to launch a crusade against slavery (3, 92). This scheme was exactly what John Brown had in mind (3,92). John Brown was born in Torrington, Connecticut in 1800 and grew up in Hudson, Ohio with a family of sixteen children (2, 1). Browns father was a captain in the Revolutionary War and endowed Brown a hatred for slavery (3, 93). Since he was young, Brown felt a strong importance of religion and his teachings in the Bible (3,93). He felt that the pro-slave sinners should be punished for their wrongdoings (3,93). After Brown married Dianthe Lusk and moved to North Elba, New York, he wished to assist the free blacks in getting accustomed to farming in the Adirondacks (2, 1). During the 1850s, Brown liberated small slave groups in Missouri and saw them off to Canada (2,1). Up to this point, there was no violence or bloodshed involved in Browns actions (2,1). All the while he was involved in these small movements, Brown was creating a greater plan of attack(2,1). Eager to help in the abolition movement, Brown traveled to Kansas, where five of his sons were (2,1). In May of 1856, news spread of a pro-slavery attack on the town of Lawrence, Kansas (3, 94). Before Brown could reach Lawrence with his militia group, the pro-slavery group had attacked and looted the town (3,94). As the action was dying down, Brown heard that five anti-slavery settlers had been killed in Lawrence during the attack (3,94). Believing in an eye for an eye, Brown and his men set out to kill five pro-slavery settlers (3,94). On their way, they heard news that pro-slavery Congressman Preston Brooks of South Carolina had beaten abolitionist Senator Charles Summer of Massachusetts with a cane on the Senate floor (3, 95). This news increased the abolitionists furies and that night they hacked James Doyle and his two sons to death (3,96). Continuing on their rage, they split Allen Wilkinsons skull and stabbed him in the chest (3,96). Needing one more victim, Brown and his men slashed at and killed William Sherman on the banks of the Pottawatomie River (3,97). Browns group then washed off their bloody s words and headed home on the dead mens horses, completely satisfied (3,97). Pro-slavery newspaperman Henry Clay Pate, in hearing about the Pottawatomie massacre, organized a gang and became determined to bring justice to John Brown (3,97). When free-staters found out about Pates intent, 28 men stood up in defense for Old Brown (3,97). Brown put together a mini-army and trapped Pates gang for several hours (3,97). The pro-slavery men eventually surrendered to Browns group and were later released by U.S. Army troops (3,97). Brown remained untried for the Pottawatomie massacre and left Kansas to come up with a larger-scaled assault on slavery (3,97). Essay on Personal Reflection On Gratitude And Its Effects On Prosocial Behavior EssayBrowns attack caused many repercussions in the South. Southerners placed the blame on the North for funding and supporting Brown (6, 134). Strict curfews and increased defense measures were enforced in southern towns out of fear (6, 134). The North worried that the South would infer that Browns attack meant the North was turning abolitionist (6, 136). The northeastern business society tried to persuade the South that it had no association with the doings of such an unsupported madman (6, 136). Boston conservatives were horrified by the raid because it put a damper on their good names in politics (6, 135). Robert C. Winthrop was warned by Edward Everett that the Harpers Ferry attack would lead the way for the final catastrophe.(6, 136) Originally, Browns supporters, Howe and Stearns, both denied any knowledge of Browns plans and fled to Canada ( 6, 136). Sanborn, another supporter, headed to Canada also, to try a change of air for his old complaint.(6, 136) Smith was admitted to an insane asylum to evade arrest (3, 102). When Brown was put on trial, both his opponents and his supporters thought he was crazy (3, 102). Some thought a plea of insanity would save him from his death and so his family presented documents claiming insanity ran in the family (3, 102). Virginia Governor Henry A. Wise was confident that Brown was an intelligent and brave man and he convicted him of murder, treason against Virginia, and conspiring to incite a slave revolt (3, 102). Wendell Phillips, William Bowditch, Thomas Wentworth, Theodore Parker, and others of Browns original followers stuck to their beliefs and supported Brown until his death (6, 136). Brown wrote a letter to his wife and children before his death, saying the following. I am awaiting the hour of my public murder with great composure of mind and cheerfulness; feeling the strong assurance that in no other possible way could I be used to so much advantage to the cause of G-d and humanityI have now no doubt but that our seeming disaster will ultimately result in the most glorious success (3, 103). Harpers Ferry aided in dividing the North and South into opposing teams, which could be considered a good deed (3, 103). Henry David Thoreau said before Browns death, It was Browns doctrine that a man has a perfect right to interfere by force with the slaveholder, in order to rescue the slave. I agree with him. (3, 104)Although Browns actions were radical, his cause was heroic. His plans to spark slave revolts in both Kansas in Virginia were not well thought-out, but his cause was passionate and justified. Brown can be looked upon as a courageous man who stood up for what he believed was right. He was a martyr until the moment he was hanged. Brown revealed all of his schemes under trial, but would convict no one else (6, 134). He was seen as silent, grim, and defiant (6, 134). He was not working to attain power or respect, but to put an end to the violation of human rights. John Browns actions in Kansas and Virginia render him a hero. To sum up Browns impact, Thomas Brigham Bishop once said, John Browns body lies a-moldering in the grave, his soul goes marching on.(2, 1)