In the early 1600’s through the start of the Civil War 500,000 slaves were brought in America from Africa. Eleven million people were taken from their home from Africa stowed on ships and over ten million died on the 4-month journey to America. From the time of the first slaves, America history was tangled in violence-the violence done to these slaves. The Missouri Compromise decided whether or not the Louisiana Territory was a slave or free state. If the state was above 36’30’’ it was considered a free state, and if the state was below 36’30’’ it was consider a slave state. John Brown a white man, was one of the only people in America to attempt to abolish slavery. He killed as many white slave owners as he could. Brown had a plan to arm the slaves to rebel against their owners. Brown was captured during the attempt to steal their weapons, but this did not stop him from attaining his goal. When he was in jail Brown became a celebrity. His letters about freeing the slaves were published, and if they were not freed he predicted there would be a Civil War. After six weeks in jail, John Brown was hanged. The Union army formed soon after Brown died and fulfilled Brown’s prophecy of our country’s struggle for a slave-free state if the slaves were not freed.
Do you agree with Brown’s violent approach to the abolishing of slavery?
"After a hard day's work diggin' up the sod, we're ready for chow."
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I would have to agree with John Brown's methods. I am not saying that i agree with the fact that violence is the way to solve problems, but this was the only way to get people to listen. There were hundreds of slave abolishionists in the states trying to be heard, but no southerner and even most northerners bothered to listen since they weren't a threat. John Brown however, shook everyone up. He was one to show the slave owners that things were going to change sooner or later; he put them on the edge of their seats. Brown made people realize that violence and death could be brought upon them if they didnt stop slavery.
Lisa R.
I agree with the principal of Browns ideas, but I don’t agree with John browns methods of abolishing slavery. Even though Johns methods seemed to work and get the job done, if he would have found a way to solve this problem peacefully in some type of debate I feel that he might have been able to get his point across just as successfully and for an even longer time because you wouldn’t have been hung for wanting slaves freed. It is clear that in the South it would have been difficult for him to get anyone to listen and although the North are anti-slavery I still find it hard to believe that he was going to get that much support because nobody was as willing to risk their life like John. Even some renowned abolitionists such as Harriet Tubman backed off their roll in helping Brown. If Brown would have gotten some sort of political support and tried taking his point to court I feel he might have had a chance instead of going on a suicide mission to free slaves from their owners. I also think giving the slaves guns would have been a terrible idea because what would have stopped them from shooting any white person they saw on the street, if they were treated that badly for so long why would they take the time to hear a random pedestrian’s side on why they shouldn’t be shot. I honestly think that if Brown had enough slaves armed, there could have been a big enough battle to start the civil war before its coming weeks later.
-Chad K.
Post a Comment