Important Note

• Until the Kansas-Nebraska Act abolitionists were not violent

• Why would abolitionists not use violence to get their point across? Why would the Kansas-Nebraska Act change this?

John Brown's Plan

• Short Term Plan

  • capture a Federal arsenal (place to store weapons and equipment)

  • arm slaves in the countryside

• Long Term Plan

  • Raid federal arsenals in TN and AL

  • Begin slave rebellions

  Which of John Brown's plans was the most realistic?

October 1859..Raid on Harpers Ferry

• Brown and 21 men cut the telegraph wire

• Captured the arsenal...and lots of guns

• Men went to capture hostages and free slaves

Continuation of the Raid

• Brown and men trapped in armory when alarms go off...

  • ...end up in a fire engine house

• Broke holes in walls to fire at U.S. Marines

Consequences of Harpers Ferry Raid

• John Brown captured and hung for treason

• People in north supported Brown

• People in south started to see how far some might go to free slaves AND...

  • ... that maybe secession was a solution

Could any compromise 'fix' the feelings that were created after John Brown's raid?