John Brown's Raid at Harper's Ferry Research Paper

John browns Raid at Harpers Ferry - Research Paper ExampleFollowing his execution after the raid on Harpers Ferry, Brown was hailed as a martyr among the opponents of slavery. Moreover, his actions were deemed as one of the causal factors of the American Civil War. John Brown disgust for slavery stemmed put up during his childhood. Evidently, he was conceived in Torrington, Connecticut on 9th May 1800 (West Virginia Archives and History). Furthermore, he was brought up with strict religious values in which his father taught him that slavery was against beau ideals will and sinful. Moreover, after Browns family relocated to Ohio, he witnessed the brutality meted against slaves by their masters and became a strong opponent of slavery. To this end, Brown passionateness of eliminating slavery grew to the point of advocating for force out as an end to slavery. Brown believed that the roots of slavery had grown so deep in society and only violence offered the best solution to its end. Interestingly enough, John Brown gained support from other opponents of slavery who had grown frustrated of the peaceful method. His first violent exploits against slavery were open on Kansas which became known as bleeding Kansas. In 1856 of May, Brown is reported to have led his sons in an attack against proponent of slavery at Pottawatomie brook in Kansas. Consequently, Brown set his objectives his anti slavery war higher by contemplating to start a slavery uprising in the South. To this end, Brown commenced his plans of a raid and capture of a federal official armoury at Harpers Ferry in Virginia. To accomplish this, he moved into a farm in close Potomac River, Maryland (Lieutenant Green & Major Russell). He was with his sons and loyal followers where they were trained in military tactics. Browns option to attack Harpers Ferry was founded on two notions. Foremost, he believed that he would be able to gain access to weapons that would be used in violent revolts against the south ern slavery proponents. Second, he aimed to dish the weapons among the enslaved negroes and eventually succeed in ending slavery. To this end, Brown conducted a night raid on Harpers Ferry on Sunday, October 16. His group was composed of 5 Negroes and 16 whites. Evidently, Browns initial raid was successful as they began by slashing off telegraph wires. This was a tactical moved aimed at acid off communication between the town and the outside world. Moreover, Brown and his men seized the rifle manufacturing plant, arsenal and local armoury. They further proceeded to hold up 60 hostages from the town. A key hostage in the raid was George Washingtons great grand nephew, Colonel Lewis Washington. However, the efforts to isolate the town by cutting of communication were not successful. The spare blunder was caused by the detention and release of a B&O train passing through the town. Upon the trains arrival in Baltimore, the federal troops led by Colonel Robert E. Lee, were notified a nd sent over to Harpers Ferry. Meanwhile, the local militia had barricaded the town and blocked any possible escape routes for the raiders. Consequently, John Brown marshalled his small contingent and hostages to tiny engine house next to the armoury. Upon the arrival of the federal forces, they raided the fire engine, overpowered Brown and killed most of his men. To this end, 15 insurgents and 5 citizens were killed, 3 insurgents were weakened while 5 insurgent