preview

The Effect of the John Brown's Raid Essay

Good Essays

Abolitionism became increasingly growing in size since 1821 when William Lloyd Garrison assisted in writing an anti-slavery newspaper, The Genius of Universal Emancipation with Benjamin Lundy. In 1831 it rapidly grew in popularity when William Lloyd Garrison started The Liberator. There was an increasing start to the abolitionist’s in America. Slavery was very big in the South for growing “cash crops”, however in the North there was not a need for slaves. As a result of that the majority of the abolitionist’s inhabited the North with organized speeches, meetings, and newspapers ran. There started out only as small revolts and fights that then turned into a big deal. For example with Kansas choosing whether or not to become a free or slave …show more content…

John Brown went to Kansas in 1857 seeking recruit soldiers for his proposed plan. The first Yankee sought after was John Cook Jr. In the next couple of months Brown continued recruiting and ended up with a small group of 22 men. It included 16 white men, 3 free blacks, 1 freed slave, and 1 fugitive slave. June of 1858 Cook was sent on a solo mission to analyze Harpers Ferry and gain information. As described, “Brown had qualms about his plan, and cautioned his cocky and garrulous scout to say nothing of their ultimate objective” (Horwitz 85). Brown did have a lot of power which Southerners did not take much notice of.
With the information and the help of Hugh Forbes in 1859 Brown rented the Kennedy Farmhouse to house the men and supplies in preparation of the attack. It was only 4 miles north of Harpers Ferry. While in the area Brown took up the name of Isaac Smith. With most all the recruits’ settles in a package arrived, “...it was still September, the rifles and the pikes had just arrived. Brown thought perhaps he had a few more days, even weeks, to hold on and recruit.” (Nelson 81). Northern abolitionist groups sent 198 breech-loading .52 caliber Sharps carbines and 950 bikes in preparation for the raid to John Brown. This created more fire power to capture Harpers Ferry.
After weeks of preparations the date is now October 16, 1859. The men were different this morning, “it was a somber, depressing day, fit for the events that wee to etch it in history”

Get Access