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John Brown Highly principled businessman or deranged lunatic ?

John Brown Highly principled businessman or deranged lunatic ? . «  From this time, I consecrate my life to the destruction of slavery ! ». The League of Gileadites.

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John Brown Highly principled businessman or deranged lunatic ?

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  1. John Brown Highlyprincipled businessman or derangedlunatic?

  2. « Fromthis time, I consecratemy life to the destruction of slavery! »

  3. The Leagueof Gileadites

  4. « The gaze of Europe isfixedatthis moment on America. Hanging Brown will open a fissure thatwillfinally split the Union asunder. The punisment of John Brown mayconsolidateslavery in Virginia, but itwillcertainlyshatter the American Democracy. You preserveyourshame but youkillyourglory. »

  5. Just the facts • Born in Connecticut, 1800 • November 7, 1837 – Minister and abolitionistElijahLovejoyismurdered by a mob in Illinois. Brown publiclyvows, « Here, beforeGod, in the presence of thesewitnesses, fromthis time, I consecratemy life to the destruction of slavery! » • 1837-1846 – Raisessheep and becomes and expert in fine sheep and wool, bringinghiminto contact withother fervent anti-slavery people. • 1846 – Moves to Springfield, Massachussets, a townwhose white leaders are all abolitionists.

  6. Just the facts 5. While in Springfield, he joins Sanford Street « Free Church », an African American churchwhereheheardfamousabolitionist speeches from Frederick Douglas and SojournerTruth. 6. 1846-1847 – He helpsmake Springfield one of the safest and mostsignificant stops along the Underground Railroad.

  7. Just the facts • 1850 – The U.S. passes the Fugitive Slave Act, which mandates thatauthorities in free states aid in the return of escaped slaves or bepunished. As a reaction, Brown forms the « League of Gileadites » to ensurethat no one betaken back intoslaveryfrom Springfield. • 1855- Brown’sadult sons are living in Kansas, as itisbeingattacked by militant pro-slavery forces whowant Kansas to be a slave state. Hearingthatthey are beingthreatened, Brown goes to Kansas.

  8. Just the facts • 1856-Hundreds of pro-slavery « ruffians » raid Kansas, killingtwo, burning down a hotel and destroyingtwo printing presses. • Hisfather dies, Charles Sumnerisbeaten in court and helearnsthathis sons are targets for the nextpro-slavery massacre. • Five pro-slaveryadvocates are killed. Brown is not there, but heapproves. 3 months of raids and battlesensue (Bleeding Kansas).

  9. Just the facts 12. – Also in 1856-His town (Osawatomie) isattacked by over 300 people. His son and neighbor are killed. He and 38 neighborsfirefromcover, thenflee to the woods as histownisplundered and burned. He becomesfamousamongabolitionists in the north. 13. 1856-1859- He gathersammunition, forces, and trains for a raid on Harper’s Ferry in Virginia.

  10. Just the facts • 1858-He returns to Kansas for 6 months to throw off thosewhoweresuspectinghim to act in Virginia. Whilethere, heliberated 11 slaves and grew a beard. • 1859- Back in Virginia, He plans to have 4,500 men raid the Armory in Harper’s Ferry, wherethere are 10,000 muskets and rifles thattheyintend to arm slaves withthroughout all of Virginia. Instead, only 21 people show up. • Theysuccessfullytake the armory, but are sooncaptured. Two of his sons are killed.

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