Pictures having to do with John Brown
These are real pistols used to fight at Harper's Ferry, when John Brown took over the arsenal there.
Picture of John Brown
John Brown's Fort
John Brown was a radical abolitionist and an insurrectionist. He attempted a career in business but failed several times. He then devoted much of his life to the noble cause of fighting for abolition. He was born in Connecticut and grew up in Ohio. In 1855 he and his five sons moved to Kansas. They took part in the clash between proslavery advocates and antislavery advocates, the result of the Kansas Nebraska Act that opened the territories, and allowed the decision of slavery to rely in the hands of popular sovereignty. Popular sovereignty let the people of the state or territory to decide the fate of slavery in that paticular place. John Brown was the captain of antislavery forces on Osawtomie Creek during the struggle. After the town of Lawrence was sacked by slavery advocates Brown was inspired to murder 5 proslavery advocates who lived along the Pottawottamie Creek, with four of his sons and two friends. Among northern extremists he became a hero. By 1858 he enlisted a militia of insurrectionists. Their mission was to create a slave rebellion. This plan was to take place in northern Virginia. In early 1859 he rented a farm near Harper's Ferry Virginia. On October 16 he armed his militia with twenty-one of his followers and occupied a federal arsenal in Harper's Ferry. He was surrounded by a militia commanded by Colonel. Robert E. Lee. Ten of his followers were killed and their position in the arsenal was overtaken. The North supported his attempt while the South had contempt for him and his actions. Many believed him to be an inspired religious martyr. This belief was widespread in the North after his hanging on December 2, 1859.
**Information from, "Reader's Companion to American History."**
Here are some web links about John Brown
Trevor Balboni, Noble and Greenough School, Class of 2000, U.S. History Ms. Hartmann
These are real pistols used to fight at Harper's Ferry, when John Brown took over the arsenal there.
Picture of John Brown
John Brown's Fort