John Brown's Raid

Who?

• John Brown and his followers
• Troops under the Command of Robert E. Lee
• Local militia

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When?

• Began October 16,1859
• His raid lasted about 36 hours
• Took place before the election of 1860

Where?

• Took place in Harper's Ferry, Virginia
• Brown decided that his location offered efficient escape routes
• Happened at a federal complex
• Complex contained an armory, arsenal, and engine house

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What?

• Brown planned to instigate a slave rebellion in the south
• Planned to capture an armory and arm local slaves
• They hoped to attract more slaves to their cause
• Brown and his men seized the complex
• He sent a patrol out to seize hostages and arm slaves willing to fight

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What?

• No slaves rose to support Brown
• Armed citizenry and militia surrounded and trapped him
• The two sides exchange gunfire, 2 civilians and 8 of brown's men die
• Troops commanded by Robert E. Lee storm engine room, captured Brown
• Brown and a few of his men were sentenced for treason, hanged

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North

• Some people admired his actions
• Believed he was a courageous martyr
• Some denounced his raid, such as newspapers
• That Brown made "the gallows as glorious as the cross"

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South

• Shocked and outraged by Brown's raid
• Southern newspapers labeled North as sympathizers for Brown
• Were not sympathizing Brown's actions

Effects

• John Brown's raid did not succeed in causing an uprising
• Stephen Douglas accused the Republicans for instigating the attack
• Lincoln and Republicans denied it, and condemned Brown
• Southern Whites attacked people holding antislavery views
• Cotton prices drop, southerners prepare for war

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Significance

• Divided countries deeply between free and slave interests
• Election of 1860 opened with much hostility
• Point of no return, both sides prepare for war
• Brown predicted "slavery will never be purged away, without much bloodshed"

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