Summary

In 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, Updated Edition, learn how this action to incite a slave rebellion was viewed 150 years ago and the repercussions it has had on the United States. Bolstered by extensive photographs, this curriculum-based eBook is ideal for students writing reports.

Specifications

eBook

About the Author(s)

Samuel Willard Crompton teaches history at Westfield State College, in the Berkshire Hills of his native western Massachusetts. He is the author or editor of many Chelsea House books, including Ulysses S. Grant in the Leaders of the Civil War Era set and Alexander Graham Bell and the Telephone in the Milestones in American History series.