John Brown's Raid

John Brown's Raid Summary

From 16 to 18 October 1959, abolitionist John Brown initiated a slave revolt in the small town of Harpers Ferry in West Virginia. John Brown sought to seize control of the federal armoury at Harpers Ferry and lead an armed revolt that would end the custom of slavery.

John Brown's Raid Cause and Effect

Upon the passing of the Kansas Nebraska Act in 1854, Abolitionist John Brown agreed to follow his sons Owen, Oliver, and Watson into Kansas to ensure that the territory would be free. When the "Sacking of Lawrence" happened in 1856, Brown decided it was necessary to violently retaliate. During the Sack, Douglas County, Sheriff Jones, led a group of men to destroy presses for the Kansas Free State and Herald of Freedom Abolitionist newspapers, the home of Charles Robinson (a free-state militia Commander-in-Chief), and the Free State Hotel. The attack was ordered on the basis of the Hotel being used by Abolitionists as a "fortress" and "arsenal" to promote resistance against pro-slavery government acts.

John Brown's Raid: The Pottawatomie Massacre

As a response to the sacking, John Brown led his sons on a march through the Pottawatomie Valley on the night of May 24-25, 1856. It was during this march that Brown and his sons dragged five pro-slavery men (who had participated in the sacking) from their homes and brutally killed them by the Pottawatomie Creek in front of their families.

Though John Brown carried out this act in the name of Abolition, some did not agree with such a harsh level of retaliation. For example, in 1856, abolitionist Frederick Douglass himself stated that it was

Regardless, this event was extremely influential during the time of "Bleeding Kansas" and helped spread John Brown's infamy across the country.

John Brown's Raid: Planning the Raid of Harpers Ferry

John Brown started to plan the raid months before in July 1859.

July - September 1859

• John Brown finds a farmhouse to rent just outside of Harpers Ferry in Virginia where he and his men begin to plan their attack.

• Brown tries to convince Frederick Douglass to join him and his men on their raid, despite knowing that Douglass spoke out against his previous actions. Douglass refused the opportunity and the plan was then set for October 16, 1859.To ensure the success of his plans, Brown worked closely with a man named John Cook, who served as his advance in Harpers Ferry. He kept Brown and his men up to date about the town, armories, and train schedules.

Map of Harper's Ferry, Wikimedia Commons.

Impact of John Brown's Raid

What happened after the raid?

John Brown's Trial

In total, 16 people were killed in John Brown's raid of Harpers Ferry ten of which were John Brown's men, five were townspeople, and one was a Marine.

October 27, 1859: John Brown’s trial for murder and attempt to begin a slave insurrection began. John BrownThe trial only lasted five days and the jury took just 45 minutes to find him and his men guilty on all charges.

November 2, 1859: Brown and his men were sentenced to be hanged. Only five of Brown’s 21 men were able to escape all responsibility by fleeing before arrest.

December 2, 1859: John Brown and his men were executed and Brown’s wife took his body home to bury him in North Elba, New York.

Brown was very influential to the abolitionist movement; he not only inspired other abolitionists to act but also inspired the enslaved people who were losing hope of ever seeing freedom. Although unsupportive of his methods, Abraham Lincoln still referenced John Browns Raid in his “Cooper Union Address” on February 27, 1860, in New York, where his moderate stance on slavery helped inspire the growth of Abolitionism.