John Brown was opposed to slavery from birth due to his father's vocal abolitionist views. In 1837, he took an oath to end slavery in the U.S. or die trying. Throughout his life he supported abolitionist causes despite financial struggles. In 1856, his efforts in Kansas raised his profile but in 1859 he led an attempt to take over the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry to arm a slave rebellion. When local militia and U.S. Marines arrived, Brown was captured, tried, and executed for treason in December 1859. His raid increased sectional tensions and debates over slavery and secession.

1. A
sign
from
above

2. beginnings
•John Brown had no choice
but to be opposed to
slavery from his very
birth, as his father was
very vocal about his
opinion.

3. beginnings
•In 1837, he took an oath
before God that he would
end slavery in the United
States or would die trying.

4. beginnings
• Brown held a number of jobs
during the first 50 years of his
life, and moved himself and his
family (including 20 children)
around the nation trying to find
financial success, but never
achieving it.

5. beginnings
• However, his lack of money did
not stop him from supporting
abolitionist causes, including
giving land to fugitive slaves,
agreeing to raise an African
American boy as one of their
own, and participating in the
Underground Railroad.

6. beginnings
• His efforts at Pottawatomie
Creek, Kansas in 1856 had
made a national name for
himself, but would only be
his beginning.

7. Opening battle?
• That event in Kansas would
seem minor after his decision
in October, 1859 to lead an
army of slaves against their
owners for freedom.

8. Opening battle?
• He brought 21 men, 16
whites and 5 African
Americans to Harper’s
Ferry, VA and attempted to
take over the federal arsenal
(a place where weapons were
stored) there.

9. Opening battle?
• When he arrived in Harper’s
Ferry, he and co-conspirators
took 60 local citizens hostage
and waited for news to
spread and have slaves join
them in their war.

10. Opening battle?
•When the local militia
arrived and the slaves of
the region never did,
Brown was in trouble.

11. Opening battle?
• The militia kept Brown
pinned down until a
detachment of Marines and
soldiers under the leadership
of Colonel Robert E. Lee
arrived and forced their way
into the arsenal.

12. Opening battle?
•Brown was seriously
wounded, captured, and
transported to a different
city for trial, which
happened almost
immediately.

13. Opening battle?
•By December, 1859,
Brown and his co-
conspirators had been
found guilty, sentenced,
and executed for their
crimes.

14. Opening battle?
• John Brown’s Raid served as
proof to the South that Northern
abolitionists were willing to fight
and die to end slavery, and began
the discussion in several
Southern states as to whether or
not they should remain as part of
the Union.

15. Is john Brown a
hero or a
villain?