John Brown: America's First Terrorist? - Spring 2011

8/7/2019 John Brown: America's First Terrorist? - Spring 2011

1/12

16 Prologue

J By Paul FinkelmanAmericas First Terrorist?ohn Brown


2/12

Prologue 1

w clba h bgiig h qicial

h Amica Civil Wa, i i whwhil mmb,

ad cmpla, h m impa g i h gglagai lavy immdialy b h wa: Jh Bw.

Wh Bw wa hagd i 1859 hi aid Hap

Fy, Vigiia, may aw him a h habig h .

F Sh, h wa h mbdim all hi aa

whi ma willig di d lavyad h m p

ymbl y aggiv Nh ailavy im. F

may Nh, h wa a pph igh, bigig

dw a ibl wi wd agai h immaliy lavy

ad h haghi h Sh ma cla.

I 2000, h Uid Sa makd h bicial

Bw bih. A ha im, dmic im wa a

gwig pblm. Bmbig, ambh, ad aaiai

had b dicd a wm cliic ad phyicia i a

mb plac; a bmb plad i Alaa Cial

Olympic Pak dig h 1996 mm Olympic had killd

p ad wdd m ha a hdd ppl; i

1995 a pai igh-wig xmi had plad a bmb ah Ald A. Mah Fdal Bildig i Oklahma Ciy,

killig 168 ppl ad ijig m ha 680 h.

Dig ha bicial ya, a mb hiia

ad h alkd ab whh Jh Bw wa

Amica i. Wa h a mdl h cwad

wh plad bmb a cliic, i pblic pak, i

bildig? Sigicaly, a la md i,

Pal Hill, cmpad himl Jh Bw a h

wa ad mdig w ppl wh wkd a a

wm cliic i Flida.

On the morning o October 18, 1859, marines stormed the engine house o the

armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, capturing Brown and a ew o his raiders and

killing the rest. By the end o the raid, o the 22 who had been involved in the plot,

10, including his sons Watson and Oliver, were dead or mortally wounded; fve,

including Brown, had been captured.

A


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18 Prologue Spring 2011

A ya a Bw bicial, h

Uid Sa wa acd wih mlipl

i aack Spmb 11, 2001.

T maig im had chagd. I

wa lg h l adm aack

by a idividal w. Nw i wa id a

wldwid cpiacy, cdiad va

ad miclly plad. T Amica

p wa a wa . I a ag

iig icid im, m

chla, ad m impa, mch h

gal pblic, hav agai akd i Jh

Bw wa Amica i.

Some Defnitions o Terrorism

T a cmpl cai d-

iii im. i k

iy ppl ad ik a i h

mid h a whm hi i

dicd. Ti, hwv, i a cmpl

dii. A all, w wld cid

ldi i waa i, y ly

hy y mak hi my al

hm. Saig wih Wld Wa II, lag-

cal bmbig ha b a ac md

waa, b bmbig miliay ag i

ly a ac im, v hgh

h civilia pplai may b hamd

izd.

Ti apc waa i hadly w. Sig

waa h aci ad mdival wld

ly izd h iid cal

w. Similaly, h lg ig h Civil

Wa, a wll a dcii by bh id

ik a civilia ag ha aidd h wa

, ly izd pplai. T

ch waa ad ailly dl Wld

Wa I izd milli civilia, b

hi wa ially im.

S, wha byd caig ighig

ppl ci im? Hw d w

d h i?

F i, h il, h ac

vilc, i h gal ah ha imply h

ma a d. i may hp

pliical chag, b wha hy wa

i imply ik back a ad ham h

hy pp. T ac bcm h

gal, wih xpcai ha ayhig l

will llw.

Ti mak im di m

A mural titled The Tragic Prelude (1941) depicts John Browns antislavery battles in the Kansas Territory in 1856. At the end o the year, he was one o the most

renowned fgures in Bleeding Kansas. The painting takes artistic license by portraying Brown with a beard; he was cleanshaven while in Kansas.


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Prologue 19John Brown

h kid illgal aciviy vilc. A

kidapp wa a am; a hag ak

ally ha dmad ha hld b m;

a bb imply wa my gd

ad migh b willig kill hm. B

h i ha dmad ad

gal h ha iz. imhy

McVigh ad y Nichl mad

dmad; hy wad hig h ha

kill ad dy. T wh

aackd h Wld ad C

ad h Pag ly wad

kill, dy, ad iz.

Ty mad dmad, akd

hig, ad by hi w

dig wld hav v b

aliv gia whav

hy migh hav wad.

Ah hallmak i

i idicimia killig; i hlp

pad . i gally

d ca wh hy killadl,

child, ld ppl, wm, m

alhgh mim aaiai

a a xcpi hi.

i a ccd

ab cllaal damag. Plaig a

bmb hig idicimialy

i a ky idica im. I

d v ma i m

h wh di a ympahic

h i hi w hic

gp. A mb Amica

Mlim did i h aack

h Wld ad C bca

ha i wh hy wkd, b

h cllaal dah w

cqc h wh

plad h aack. F i,

idicimia killig hlp pad

. Similaly, i kill h i

a pa liv miimiz dah

vy li i a lgiima ag.

i ally aack miliay

ag ad h wh a abl dd

hmlv. O hi vicim a wha

migh b calld cmbaa i whav

gig ggl h i. O cmm

apc i i ha hy avid dic

cac ad cai wih h wh

a amd, pcially h miliay. id

hi, m i pla hi aci

hav h ga impac ad kill h m

ppl.

i al ac i c ad y

avid ay kwig wh hy a. Ty

wa mak ad i h way y

hid hi idiy. T claic Amica

i i h hd Klama, wih hi

ac cvd, killig, baig, milaig,

big, ad apig, iz h wh

ppd acial qaliy ad black ag.

Bca hy a vil ad k kill,

maim, dy ppy, hy aally

m b civ. A hi ac, hwv

hy a likly ply (b aymly)

bag ab hi cim.

im al ha a pliical cx

Ti i paiclaly impa wh

w y mak h diici bw

im ad vli. I h Dclaai

Idpdc, Tma J

a i picipl ha

jid vil vhw h

gvm. O wa a lg

ai ab.

Ev m impa

J ad hi cllag

wa h lack acc h

pliical pc chag hig

paclly. Fm h Amica

ppciv, i 1776, h wa

a pliical li h

cii bca Amica had

vic i h Biih gvm

I addii, h Amica

Rvli wa a p

aack iiiad by h Biih.

T, wh h a pliica

av chag, vilcch

a h Amica p ig a h

Biihbcm vli. B

wh h pliical pc a

p, vilc bcm im

Ti wa v h 9-11

i. Nhig pvd

hm m pliically gaizig

dmaig, ad dcaig h

Amica pblic ab h chag

hy wad. Ti chic wa

h-cici h pliical pi i

av vilc ad im.

Wih h gal d

adig, l Jh Bw,

dad wha h did, ad cd i

i i h cx im.

What Brown Did

Bw i ccd im w v

i hi li: h Pawami aid i h Kaa

John Brown in the 1850s. He had alternately tried to succeed as a

tanner, sheep rancher, suburban developer, and canal builder, but was

undone by ailing economic conditions and his inept business skills.


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iy i 1856 ad hi aid Hap

Fy, Vigiia (w W Vigiia) i 1859.

Bh ivlvd vilc ad killig. Bh hav

ld m ppl claim Bw wa a i.

O h igh May 24, 1856, Bw ld

a aidig pay hi , hi -

i-law, ad w h m Pawami

Ck. F h m pa, hi aid wa

plad ad alm pa. Bw

acd i aliai a aid h

a lm a Lawc, h killig

a l i Kaa, ad pi

ha by h plavy l alg

Pawami Ck. Bw ad hi m

d h cabi, igad a mb

m, ad vally killd v hm,

all wih wd ad kiv. Sm w killd

qickly, whil h, wh id, w c

i may plac. Bw ad hi m h

dpad.

Sigicaly, alhgh Bw ad hi

m killd v plavy l, hy

did kill all h Sh l hy

cd. Ty pad h li h

wi ad ag h m

hy killd, v hgh h ppl cld

hav idid h aid. A ah cabi,

hy igad w m ad l hm g,

cvicd hy had had a

l b ivlvd i vil aci

agai h a l. A a hid h

hy al pad h wi ma, v

whil hy killd him.

T ad a hal ya la, h

vig Ocb 16, 1859, Jh Bw

ad 18 ldi izd h U.S. aal

a Hap Fy, Vigiia. Bw pla

w aaicm wld ay ia. H

wld h am i h aala wll

a ld-ahid pik h had had pcially

maacd bgi a gilla wa

agai lavy. T c hi amy wld

b h mly whi bad aid wh

izd h aal. B , h hpdh

blivdh j kwha hdd

v had lav wld ji him i

h gh agai h pclia iii.

H pdicd ha c wd hi aid

g , lav m hgh h gi

wld appa a hi id, a b wam

h hiv.

Dig hi aid, Bw ad hi m

had capd a mb lav w i

h aa, icldig Lwi Wahig, h

ga-gad-phw Pid Gg

Wahig. Bw did kill ay h

capd m, ad h w hi way

pc hm ad mak hy w

hamd.

Whil i Hap Fy, h aid killd

a ailad baggag hadl, wh iically

wa a black, wh h d hi

d hal. I a gh hy killd a

w wm, icldig h may. A

pi Bw ppd a pag ai, hld

i a whil, ad h lad i. T ai

cid Wahig, D.C., wh

h cw dilly pd cial ha

Bw had izd Hap Fy. T x

day, Ocb 18, U.S. mai, d h

cmmad Amy Bv Cl. Rb E.

L, capd Bw i h gi h

h amy gd. By hi im, m

h aid w ih dad wdd.

day la, Bw ial bga i

Chalw, Vigiia (w W Vigiia).

H wa chagd wih a, md, ad

cpiig wih lav bl. H wa

cvicd Nvmb 2 ad cd

dah. B hi cig, Bw ld h

Frederick Douglass hosted John Brown at his home in January and February 1858. Dougla

sympathetic but believed Browns plan or the Harpers Ferry attack was suicidal.


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c ha hi aci agai lavy w

ci wih Gd cmmadm.

I bliv, h aid i a pch ha

lcid may Nh wh la ad

i, ha hav id a I hav d i

bhal Hi dpid p, i wg,

b igh. Nw, i i i dmd cay ha

I hld i my li h hac

h d jic, ad migl my bld

wih h bld milli i hi lav

cy wh igh a digadd by

wickd, cl, ad j acm, I ay

l i b d.

I h mh bw hi cig

Nvmb 2 ad hi xci Dcmb

2, Bw w billia l ha hlpd

ca, i h mid may Nh

hi imag a a Chi-lik may wh gav

hi li ha h lav migh b

Idd, Fdick Dgla wld la ay

ha h livd h lav, b Jh Bw

wa willig di h lav. Bw

wlcmd hi d, dclaig: I am wh

iccivably m hang ha ay

h pp.

F abliii ad ailavy acivi

black ad whi, Bw mgd a a h, a

may, ad limaly, a habig h d

lavy. M Nh whi, pcially

h cmmid ablii, w agha

a h vilc hi aci. Y h wa al

widpad pp him i h gi

Nh vaily cam Bw a a

ailavy ai, a bav b lih xmi

a laic, ad a ha h Ui.

T Rpblica gv Ma-

ach, Jh A. Adw, mmd p h

lig may Nh wh h d

d Bw acic h widm h

aid, b dclad ha Jh Bw himl i

igh. B m Rpblica pliicia wid

ha hy wld b ad by hi xmim ad

l h x lci. Dmca ad wha

maid h Whig (wh wld bcm

Ciial Uii), by ca, ad

ha Bw aid wld plaiz h ai, p

h Rpblica i pw, ad cha h Sh

h Ui.

F whi Sh, Bw wa h w

pibl ighma: a al, cmmid

abliii, amd, accmpaid by black

ad willig di d lavy. Idd, i h

mid Sh, Bw wa h ga

ha lavy h Sh had v wid

M Sh had a la a vag a

lav blli. B Sh had c-

vicd hmlv ha m lav w

c wih hi a ad ha, i ay v

While at Frederick Douglasss home in1858, Brown wrote a constitution or the revolutionary state he

hoped to create.


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Spring 201122 Prologue

black w icapabl ayhig w ha

padic vilc. Bw, hwv, aid h

mi pibiliy amd black lav,

ld by whi, wh gh wld dy

Sh whi ciy.

Wh wa hi laic, hi mad ma, hi

abliii h, hi ai, hi may

dm? Wa h Amica i?

Who Was John Brown?

I may way Bw wa a ypical 19h-

cy Amica. H wa b i ig,

Ccic, i a amily dply ligi

Cggaiali wh w Pia i

hi hiag ad vly ailavy i hi

viw. Wh h wa v, h amily mvd

wha wa h h W. Ty migad

Hd, Ohi, which wa i h W

Rv bw Ak ad Clvlad. T

gi wa ll Nw Eglad, pcially

m Ccic.

Bw gw p i a amph i which

vy dpid lavy. Bh Bw ad

hi ah w aly pp h w

abliiim ha mgd i h 1830.

Bw ah, a pmi bima

wih a lag ay, wa ivlvd i yig

mak W Rv Cllg i a

ailavy ghld. Wh ha aild,

h ld Bw ppd h cai

Obli Cllg a a acially igad

cdcaial iii high laig

wih a ailavy b.

Dpi hi ah aciai wih

cllg, Bw had lil mal dcai.

Ealy i hi li h cidd bcmig a

clgyma, ad h d Ccic

ad a ppaay chl a a pld

gig a miay. B ha pibiliy

dd wh h fkd h chl.

By ag 20 h wa maid ad a ma i

hi ah ay. Hi bid, Diah Lk,

gav bih v child b h did

i 1832. Fiv h child livd il

adlhd. I 1833 h maid May A

Day, a dcad 16-ya-ld, hal hi

ag. Sh wld hav 13 child, b ly ix

wld viv adlhd.

I 1825 Bw mvd w

Pylvaia, wh h wa a ccl

a ad a pma (d Pid

Jh Qicy Adam). Dpi hi w p

dcai ad ggl wih chlig, h

hlpd a a lcal chl. A pp bgh

h cmmiy, h bcam a chch

lad ad jid h Ma. I 1834 hi

bi w bad, ad h mvd back

Ohi, aig a ay i K. T

h pclad i lad ad w a cac

bild a caal m K (h calld

Fakli Mill) Ak. H md h

Fakli Lad Cmpay wih 700 ac

bildig h.

Browns stand in Harpers Ferry ended on the morning o October 18, 1859, when U.S. marines broke into the engine house o the ederal armory. Brown and his

band o soldiers had arrived in town on the evening o October 16 and waited or slaves to join them, as bees swarm to the hive, but they never came.


8/12

Browns trial in Charlestown, Virginia, began in October 1859. He was charged with and convicted o

treason, murder, and conspiring with slaves to rebel.

John Brown

The execution o John Brown on December 2, 1859. In the month beore, he wrote brilliant letters that

helped create, in the minds o many Northerners, his image as a Christ-like martyr who gave his lie so

that slaves might be ree.

A w call Bw acivii, i i

aciaig al cmpla h imag

Jh Bw a a bba dvlp. B

h paic 1837 chagd vyhig. By

h d h ya, Bw wa bakp.

F h x v ya h ddgd cdi

b ally dclaig bakpcy i 1842

ad lig alm vyhig h wd.

Up hi pi i hi li, Bw had

d hig idica h wa paiclaly

pliical ally ailavy. H wa, i

ac, a aily cvial Jackia, yig

ica hi a ad walh ad alway

lkig h x ppiy: a,

caal bild, bba dvlp, ad i

h wak h paic, bakp.

By 1844, Bw wa back i h bi

wld, aiig hp wih a walhy bi

pa i Ak. B hi ip bi

kill did him i agai, pcially a amp

ll 200,000 pd wl i Eglad,

which wa a xp wl. Oddly, whil

hi cdi d him, accd him

dihy lackig igiy. Ev

ppl wh ac w alm id

by hi bhavi likd him.

I 1854a ag 54Bw wa a aild

bima, a impvihd am wih

a w had cal i Ohi ad m lad

i Upa Nw Yka Nh Elbaha

h had y paid . Ta ya v hi

ad hi -i-law mvd Kaa. I

pa hy w impv hi cmic

a ad d w, vigi il amig.

B hy al w pad dm i h

W.

T Kaa-Nbaka Ac 1854 had

gaizd h w Kaa iy wih

baig lavy. Ud ha law, h l

hmlv wld dcid h i lavy

by ppla vigy. T, wh h

Bw mvd Kaa, hy w makig

a pliical am hlp ha

Kaa wld b a a.

Dig hi pid, Bw had gadally

mgd a a yildig pp

lavy. H paicipad i h dgd

ailad ad i 1851 hlpd d h


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Lag Giladi, a gaizai

whi, black, ad away lav

ddicad pcig giiv lav m

lav cach.

I h 1840 Bw wa i cac wih

ch ailavy lad a Gi Smih ad

Fdick Dgla. Y a la a 1855 Bw

maid a magial g i h ailavy

mvm ad i all h way hiically

iigica. I 1855 Bw jid hi

ad -i-law i Kaa, lig alg

h Oawami Riv. I Dcmb 1855

h hlpd dd Lawc, h c

ailavy l, m a amd aack by

plavy c.

O May 21, 1856, hgh, wh Bw

wa lwh, plavy m ackd ad

bd h -il w, dyig h

piig p h, big bildig,

ad izig h id. T day

la, Bw ad hi bad -a

gilla killd v Sh l alg

h Pawami Riv, dcapiaig m

hm wih wd. La ha mm, a

plavy mii, wkig a a c

h U.S. Amy, mdd Bw amd

Fdick, hig him i h ha a

cl ag. Hi bdy, wh dicvd, wa

iddld wih bll.

Tgh h 1856, Bw ad

hi maiig gh i Kaa ad

Mii. Sm h c w

pichd bal bw Bw mall amy

ad plavy c, which w mim

abd by h U.S. Amy.

By h d 1856, Bw wa h

m wd (ad ih had add)

g i bldig Kaa, ad i h Ea

h bcam kw a Oawami Bw

Old Oawami. F m Nw

Eglad abliii h wa appachig

h a a cl g. aci, bl,

gad amdBw had bcm

a ymbl h mgig hly cad

agai lavy. T i h Ea kw h

gh agai lavy, b w w awa

h xac a hi l i h gy

v a Pawami.

Wihi w wk a h icid, h play

Osawatomie Brown appad Badway. T

play accd Bw mi h maac

a Pawami ad ggd ha h al

kill had blamd Bw i d dicdi

him. Mv, v ic h maac, Jam

Browns grave at his amily arm in North Elba, New York, became a pilgrimage site. Brown cannot be seen as a terrorist, but is viewed perhaps more accurately as a

violent revolutionary striking a blow or reedom, against slavery.


10/12


Rdpah, a Eglih jali wh la

w Bw bigaphy, had b aig

ad ha Bw wa pibl h

md. T, wh Bw w a d-

aiig ip Maach ad Ccic

i 1857, aw him a a kill. A h

im, h did ay l i h Pawami

md, ad hi abliii pp i

h Ea gladly accpd hi diavwal a ac

val. Bw a cac hgh hi

dai him wld g pp h wa

agai lavy i Kaa. Acally, Bw wa

alady plaig a aid Hap Fy.

A aly a 1854, Bw had b

hikig, ad alkig, ab a ga-

izd wa agai lavy i Vigiia. Hi

c, m h bgiig, m hav

b Hap Fy, h i a dal

aal ad amy. By 1857 hi pla w

bgiig ak hap. I Mach 1857 h

hid a Ccic gma mak a

had pik, allgdly i Kaa

b acally b giv lav wh h

blivd wld fck hi gilla amy

c h ivadd h Sh.

I Jaay ad Fbay 1858 h p a

mh a h hm Fdick Dgla,

plaig hi aid ad wiig a pviial

cii h vliay a

Bw hpd ca. Bw bggd

Dgla ji him. Dgla wa

ympahic Bw gal b blivd

h pla wa icidal: Y walkig i

a pc l-ap ad y will v g

aliv, h ld Bw. Nvhl,

Dgla idcd Bw Shild

G, a giiv lav m Sh Calia

wh jid Bwad whm Vigiia

ahii hagd a h aid.

I h aly pig 1858, Bw bga

aiig lag am my hi aid,

wiig pial back ha h wa plaig

m [dgd] Rail Rad bi

a somewhat extended cal. Hwv, i

p h mad i cla ha h idd

d m ha mly hlp lag mb

lav cap. O Fbay 22, 1858,

Bw vald hi gal plaad hi

pviial cii Gi Smih ad

Fakli Sab. Bw al cacd black

lad hlp ci black. I Mach

1858 Bw m i B wih h Rvd

Tma Wwh Higgi, Td

Pak, Gg Sa, Saml Gidly Hw,

ad Fakli Sab. T v, alg wih

Smih, mad p h Sc Six, Bw

pimay acial back. I J 1858,

avlig a Shbl Mga, Bw hadd

w, aiig m my ad ciig m

aid i Clvlad. Whil Bw cid

Kaa, Jh E. Ck, hi aid,

mvd Hap Fy, wh h d

wk ad lad wha h cld ab h

cmmiy, h amy, ad h lay h

lad. H al ahd a child ad maid a

lcal wma.

I Dcmb 1858 Bw c agai

mad hadli hi xpli i h W.

H ivadd Mii, wh h killd a lav

w, libad 11 lav, ad billialy

vadd law cm c a h ld h

d black Caada. T Bw m a

black pi, Ob Py Ad, wh

wld la ak pa i h Hap Fy

aid. Alhgh a wad ma wih a pic

$250 hi had, Bw d

h Uid Sa, avlig ad pakig i

Ohi, Nw Yk, Maach, ad C-

cic. Bw al cacd h Sc

Six wh w acig him.

I J 1859 Bw viid hi hm i

Nh Elba, Nw Yk, h la im,

wh h aid gd-by hi wi ad

dagh. Bw pbably kw ha h

wa likly hi amily agai, m-

hig h ically accpd a a c hi

cad agai lavy. H wa l accp-

ig hi Salm, hwv, wh dcid-

d h wld ji hi ah a appa-

ly icidal mii i Vigiia.

Bw ad hi Oliv ad Ow

aivd i Hap Fy Jly 3, 1859, ad

Bw d a am i Maylad, ab v

mil m Hap Fy. H xpcd lag

mb m li i hi amy, b

by Spmb ly 18 had aivd, icldig

ah Bw , Wa. By mid

Ocb, a w m aivd.

O Sday, Ocb 16, Bw ad

hi m bga hi aid. Ty mad a

ag am: va h ggl

i Kaa, giiv lav, black

acdal idali, Obli Cllg

m, ad yhl abliii hi

ay i h wld. T yg wa

18. T ld, Dagld Nwby, wa a

44-ya-ld giiv lav m Vigiia wh

hpd c hi wi m bdag. B

m h aid w i hi 20, hal h

ag hi lad, h 59-ya-ld Bw

Bw l h hi ci gad

hi ppli ad am a h amh

i Maylad. T maiig 18 aid, 13

whi ad v black, machd wih Jh

Bw Hap Fy.

Bw mall amy aivd i Hap

Fy a igh ad qickly cd h

dal amy ad aal ad la Hall

Rif Wk, which maacd wap

h aial gvm. Wih h

lgaph wi c, Bw migh hav aily

izd h wap i h w, libad

lav i h ighbhd, ad h ak

h hill. O h migh hav dyd h

amy ad lially blw p h w.

Ixplicably, hgh, h maid i h

amy, waiig lav fck hi adad

Ty v cam. Iad, wm ad

am dd h amy. T civilia

w pbably g gh dildg

Bw, b hy kp him pid dw

Alhgh Bw id gia wih h

civilia, hi miai, icldig hi

Wa, w h whil d a whi fag. By

h mig Ocb 18, igh Bw

m w dad capd, ad ha am day

miliia m Vigiia ad Maylad aivd

Pid Jam Bchaa had dipachd U.S

mai ad ldi Hap Fy, wih

Bv Cll L i cmmad. Dicly d

L wa ah Vigiia, L. J.E.B. Sa.

Ta mig, mai md h gi

h h amy, capig Bw ad a

w hi aid ad killig h . By h d


11/12


h aid, h 22 wh had b ivlvd

i h pl, 10 Bw m, icldig hi

Wa ad Oliv, w dad mally

wdd; v, icldig Bw, had b

capd. Sv capd, b w w la

capd i Pylvaia ad d

Vigiia ial ad xci. T h v,icldig Bw Ow, mad hi way

a hav i Caada ad m pa h

Nh. All b Ow Bw la vd i h

Ui Amy.

Bw cap Ocb 18 h ag

hi ial ad xci. Svly wdd,

Bw had b caid i c Ocb

25 a plimiay haig ad Ocb

27 hi ial. T jdg wld v dlay

h pcdig a day allw Bw lawy

aiv. T ial wa pdy. O Nvmb2 Bw wa cvicd ad cd

dah. H wa xcd Dcmb 2, ad

Dcmb 8 h wa bid a h amily

am i Nh Elba, a Lak Placid. May

Nh ipd h hay aci

h Vigiia ahii i yig ad xcig

Bw a ah xampl Sh ijic.

T appa lack d pc i hi ial h

cibd h Nh pcpi ha

Bw wa a may. T m abd apc

h ial wa h chag agai Bw. H

wa idicd ad cvicd a agai

h a Vigiia. B a Bw pid

, h had v livd i Vigiia, v wd

lyaly h a, ad h cld

hav cmmid a agai h a. M

Sh, hwv, aw Vigiia aci a a

pply wi p h pakabl ac

a dag ma wh gal wa dy

hi i ciy.

By h im hi xci, h i

ai wa xad hi badd ma wh

pk ad lkd lik a biblical pph ad

wh dd hilldwhh wih a

admiai bha i gai.Idicaiv hi xai i a had apc

i h hwi divg p

Wdll Phillip ad Edmd Rh

ga abliii a ad h -aig

Vigiia cii. I h ya llwig

h aid, ach hm pmily caid

ad diplayd a Jh Bw pik ha

Bw had dd m h Ccic

dy. F Phillip h pik ymblizd

h gly, ad R h h, a

vil ici ld by a cdPia willig di vhw lavy.

Terrorist, Guerrilla Fighter,

Revolutionary?

Bw aci i Kaa ad a Hap Fy

w claly vil. H killd ppl a la

pvid hi dah. B wa h a i?

A ih plac d hi aci cmp wih

wha w kw ab md i.

T Hap Fy aid wa hi m

am ac. Bw hld Hap Fym la Sday igh, Ocb 16, il

h wa capd h 18h. H wa i

pi alm limid am

gpwd ad wap. H had capd

pmi ciiz, m amly Cll

Wahig. H ppd a ai ll

pag ad igh.

Wha wld md i hav d

i ch cicmac? Ty migh hav l

h ai g, ly a hy had bbd all h

pag d h ac , ad

h blw p h bidg a h ai cd

m Vigiia Maylad. Ty migh hav

plad xpliv h ai ad l i pcd,

a i did i Spai a w ya ag. Wha

did Bw d? H badd h ai, l ppl

kw wh h wa, ad wa by ppl wh

migh la hav idid him. T h l h

ai ci Wahig. T w

h aci a i.

Whil i Hap Fy, Bw migh hav

blw p h dal amy ( idd m

h w) a akig a mch pwd ad

wap a hi m cld cay. H migh

hav bk i hm pmi pplad laghd hm. Bw did

h hig. H waid, lihly ,

h lav i h aa fck him. H wa

cagh i a gh wih lcal ciiz, ad h

wa capd by h U.S. c. H pvd

b a dia miliay lad ad a aild

capai hi bav ad idaliic p.

B h v acd lik a i. H dd

killig; h did waly dy

ppy; ad h cad hi hag. Ti i

imply hw i ac.T v a Kaa a imila. Bw

agd a mb idividal wh had

b ladigvilly ladigplavy

c i h aa.

A h hm Jam Dyl, h aid

did kill hi 16-ya-ld hi wi,

Mahala, v hgh bh cld hav

idid Bw ad hi m. Bw m

For Southerners, John Brown was the embodiment

o all their earsa white man willing to die to end

slavery. For many Northerners, he was a prophet o

righteousness.

To learn more about

T xhibi Dicvig

h Civil Wa, g www.archives.gov/exhibits/civil-war/.

Slcd li cd

laig h Civil Wa, g www.archives.

gov/research/arc/topics/civil-war.html.

Naial Cmmii i Aack

Up h Uid Sa (h 9/11

Cmmii), g www.archives.gov/

legislative/research/9-11/.


12/12


killd All Wilki, b hi wi,

Lia, wh cgizd Bw

m hi vic. M. Wilki wa ill a h

im, ad a killig h hbad, Bw

akd h i h wld b ighb wh

cld hlp ca h.

Sly, a Rb McGl , i migh

m biza ha Bw wa ccd

ab h halh a h had j killd

h hbad. B h hbad wa gily

aackig a m ad haig

h Bw, ad h wa (i Jh Bw

mid) jly xcd. B hi wi wa

ic ad pihd. Ti wa h

bhavi a i.

KaaBldig Kaa a i i kw

wa i h mid a civil wa. Bw

1855 ad 1860 ab 200 m wld bkilld i Kaa. N all w pliically

mivad, ad hiia diag wha

ci a pliical killig. B v h

m cvaiv chla hi vilc

d 56 killig ha w id lavy

ad pliic. I hik hi mb i lw, ad

ha m h 200 dah w acally

pliically mivad ad id lavy ad

Bldig Kaa. B h acal mb

pliical killig i l impa ha h

dadig ha i Kaa h wa avil civil wa big gh v lavy;

m bh id w killd. Bw

aci a m am bca h

w v killig, ad h agically d

wd, ah ha g, which wld

hav ald ighb. Ti i h a

gilla waa. I i bal ad bldy, b

i i im.

T i al a pliical cx. I Kaa

h wa dmcaic gvm. Elci

w ily adl ad vil. Tmajiy h l w m h a,

b h aial gvm cgizd a

miiy gvm ha wa plavy. Ta

lgila mad i a cim pblicly pp

lavy. T wa, a la d h mal law,

pch i Kaa abliii. Ti

wa al i Vigiia, wh Jh Bw

aidd Hap Fy. H cld hav g

Vigiia dc lavy v g

Vigiia giv p lavy. T, i hi

Bw wa ghig agai dmcaic

iii i a ciy; ah h wa

ghig agai a ciy ha did

him baic civil libi ad, i Kaa, v h

igh hav a ai lci.

Remembering, Honoring, John Brown

S, wha i h d ca w mak Jh

Bw? I h wa a iwha wa

h? H migh b a vliay, yig

a a vli d lavy ad lll

h gal h Dclaai Idpdc.

A plavy bd a id pv

dmcacy i Kaa, ad w willig

md ad aal pp dm, Jh Bw ly had a igh dd

hi lm ad hi id. Bw did

cally pla h Pawami aid h

way y Nichla ad imhy McVigh

plad h Oklahma Ciy bmbig. H

acd pcic ha ad h ackig

Lawc by a plavy mb. Ti wa

im, b a ac waa i Bldig

Kaa. Nvhl, md Amica a

cmabl dig hi vgl vilc

i Kaa, hwv cay i may hav b.Similaly, , v h lavhld,

cld dy ha lav migh lgiimaly

gh hi w liby. I lav cld

gh hi liby, h ly a whi

ma lik Bw wa mally wg

jiig i h gh agai bdag.

T Hap Fy i i h d a blw

dm, agai lavy. Wh ca dy

h lgiimacy ch a v, hwv

lih, ply digd, ad icmply

implmd? B i a ciy dmcaicadii, Amica cil a h ida

vil vli ad aid gvm

ami, v wh, a wa h ca i

Vigiia i 1859, dmcacy wa mhig

a ham, ad h wa ih pch

pliical iii.

I h d, w pply viw Bw

wih mixd mi: admiig him hi

ddicai h ca hma dm

mavlig a hi willig di h

liby h, y cai ab hi

mhd, ad caily bld by hi

icmp acic a Hap Fy.

Phap w d p accpig h

agm h abliii lawy ad

la gv Maach, Jh

A. Adw, wh dclad whh h

pi Jh Bw ad hi acia

i Vigiia wa wi lih, igh

wg; I ly kw ha, whh h

pi il wa h h h

Jh Bw himl i igh.

Author

Paul Finkelman civd hi B.A. mSyac Uiviy ad hi Ph.D. i

hiy m h Uiviy Chicag

H i h Pid William McKil

Diigihd P Law ad Pblic Plicy a Albay

Law Schl. H i h ah di m ha 25

bk ad v 150 chlaly aicl. Hi lgal hiy

chlahip ha b cid by m c, icldig

h Uid Sa Spm C.

T vy b dici Bw i Kaa i

d i Rb E. McGl,John Browns War Against

Slavery(Nw Yk: Cambidg Uiviy P, 2009).

T qai m Bw pch i c

i m Life and Letters of John Brown, Liberator

of Kansas, and Martyr of Virginia, d. Fakli B.

Sab (1885), p. 585. Qai Fdick

Dgla ad Bw a m Sph B. Oa,

o Purge Tis Land With Blood: A Biography of

John Brown, 2d d. (Amh, Uiviy

Maach P, 1984), p. 335. F m

Bw l-cad maydm, Pal Fiklma,

His Soul Goes Marching On: Responses to John

Brown and the Harpers Ferry Raid (Chalvill:Uiviy Vigiia P, 1995), pp. 4166.

F h cvaiv ima h mb

pliical killig i Kaa, Dal E. Wa, Hw

Bldy wa Bldig Kaa? Pliical Killig i h

Kaa iy, 18541861, Kansas History, 18

(1995): 116129.

Jh Adw dclaai ha Jh Bw

himl i igh i qd i Owald Gai Villad,

John Brown, 18001859: A Biography Fifty Years Later

(Nw Yk Ald A. Kp, 1943), p. 557.

Note on Soures

P

Documents

John Brown: America's First Terrorist? - Spring 2011