The Raid on Harpers Ferry

n October 1859, a group of 22 men led by abolitionist John Brown sought to ignite a slave revolt. They believed that a violent rebellion was the only way to change the system and bring down slavery's hold on the South. They came at harvest time, believing that this was when the overworked slaves would be most eager to revolt. Brown's men took and briefly held the foremost arsenal south of the Mason-Dixon Line, but when a massive uprising didn't occur, they were soon captured and eventually found guilty of treason. Their audacity made them heroes to some, even as they were reviled by many for their use of deadly force. This event was one of the many catalysts leading up to the Civil War. In The Raid on Harpers Ferry: John Brown's Rebellion, learn how this action to incite a slave rebellion was viewed 150 years ago and the repercussions it has had on the United States.