Essay 2 - John Brown

John Brown is a man viewed in many different ways, yet still dedicated many of his actions (violent and non-violent) to ending slavery.

Among Brown's non-violent actions were donating money to abolitionist newspapers, raising a black child of his own, and giving land to fugitive slaves.

However, what sparks up such a great amount of controversy about him is his more violent actions; he once "electrified the nation" with his slave rebellion in Harpers Ferry, Virginia. He also was tried for murdering five pro-slavery Southerners.

All of his acts, helpful or not to ending slavery, pushed the North and South further apart by causing the South to believe all Northerners are as berserk as him. In turn, the United States was drawn closer to the Civil War due to the dispute of Brown between both sides of the nation.

The North, on one hand, viewed John Brown's deeds as heroic. He had took a different intention on ending slavery as opposed to other abolitionists; physically taking action instead of simply talking about it. He had "opened the nation's eyes" in having them realize that words would not stop slave catchers and pro-slavery Southerners--his revolts would.

The South, however, saw Brown as a threat to the U.S.--they believed his acts of violence were out-of-control and drove slavery to be even harsher than ever before.