A Michigan teen made a documentary last year about whether or not abolitionist John Brown was a hero or a madman. His school project won national attention from newspapers like USA Today.
Before starting your own research on John Brown, click on the link title Teen's Documentary on John Brown and read Luke Jaden's story....who know this could be you some day.
Next, I would like you to do a little of your own online research on John Brown. As you research who John Brown was, I would like you to form an opinion as to whether Brown was a HERO or MADMAN.
Do not forget to use text evidence from the sources you read to support your belief about John Brown: HERO or MADMAN?
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| A young John Brown |
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| John Brown later in life |
67 comments:
Lauren Rancourt
In my opinion, I think John Brown was a hero. He helped many slaves with the underground railroad. Even though most white people at that time thought we was a madman for helping the slaves, he helped them and it led the U.S. to the Civil War. It's sad that the people thought he was a madman for doing the right thing. At the link ofhttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p1550.html , it says, "John Brown's plan seemed fairly straightforward: he and his men would establish a base in the Blue Ridge Mountains from which they would assist runaway slaves and launch attacks on slaveholders." This plan seemed fair and sounded like it might have worked. Even though it didn't work, it was a good idea and it wasn't crazy.
John Millo
Per 2
I feel like John Brown was a madman because i don't think killing is the issue to resolve slavery. John Brown was literally ready to kill another human for not thinking the same as him. Even many white's wrote of John Brown Derogatorily because that was his way of ending slavery. John Brown was a person who strongly believed that not having slavery is better for our country but he thought the best way to end it was killing.
I think John Brown was a hero. He was willing to risk his life for the freedom of slaves. He did kill 5 people in Bleeding Kansas but he did it for the equality of slaves. If he wasn't killed and did get the slaves the weapons maybe slavery would have ended there and he would be an American hero.
Kenny Schneider Period 1
Finbar Quinn period 2
I think John brown is a hero because he did the one thing no one dared to do at the time actually go down south and bring slaves north so they can be freed.Unfortunately the south saw this as an attack on their way of life so they hung him.On that day the north rang church bells to mourn for his death.
Amanda Flynn
In my opinion, John Brown was not a madman, he was a hero. He might not have tried to get rid of slavery in a smart way, but at least he wanted there to be no such thing as slavery. On wikipedia it says "Brown's followers also killed five slavery supporters at Pottawatomie." This shows that the way he tried to get rid of slavery, was cruel. Many people could argue that he is a madman. He is in many ways, but I believe that he is mainly a hero for showing people that slavery is and trying to put an end to it.
I believe that John Brown was a hero, other than killing multiple people. He stood up for what he believed in and he was willing to do what he had to do to get what he, and many, many others wanted. He wanted what was best for everyone. He genuinely believed that a black man and a white man are equals, unlike a lot of others.
Cassi Stoica
John Brown isn't a hero but he's not a mad man either. Even killing people to end slavery is wrong but when you think about it imagine how many slaves they've killed or tortured and treated as property. Its wrong to kill people to get a point across. instead you should try to talk or write like Harriet Stowe.
Amanda Hanna
period 1
John Brown was an American abolitionist who believed the only way to rid the country from slavery was by using weapons and violence. In the eyes of the North, he was a hero, but in the eyes of the South, he was a terrorist. In his eyes, he thinks that he is “God’s chosen instrument” ( http://www.history.com/topics/john-brown ) and he would even murder for the cause. He and his group of 20 men planned to take over the Federal Arsenal in Harpers Ferry, Virginia, and arm southern slaves with their own guns to leave a slave revolt. It was the biggest arsenal in the South, with 20,000 rifles and pistols, all worth almost $7,000,000 today. He fails to complete the task and ends up getting captured and executed on December 2, 1859, with his final words being, “I, John Brown am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood.” I believe that John Brown is a bit of both. The North saw a man fighting for human rights and what he believed in, but he didn’t really have to kill all of those men. He even lost some of his, and all five of his sons who came along with him were killed in the battle.
Madeline Winters
Period 1
Manaia Friend
Period 3
2/19/15
“He was a radical abolitionist who believed in the violent overthrow of the slavery system,” says history.com. I personally think this situation could be looked at in many different ways. I think he is a “madman.” Violence is never the answer. Although I do see why he did what he did. Other people were trying to “use their words” and it wasn’t making a big difference in ending slavery. So, yes, overall, I think he did the wrong thing but for the right reason.
http://www.history.com/topics/john-brown
I think that John Brown was a madman and a hero because he was sticking up for what he believed in and trying to free slaves, but I think he was doing it the wrong way. Violence is not a good thing and because he used it it did make him a little bit of a mad man. We don't want to fight against other people. We don't want war and this encourages it a little bit. If he wanted to abolish slavery he should have tried it the peaceful way first, and if that didn't work then maybe violence could be exceptional to use. But you should always use your words first. In my opinion he was half a madman and half a hero.
Maria Castro-Rodriguez
period 1
http://www.history.com/topics/john-brown
I think that john brown was a hero because he was very important in us history because he belived that the only way slavery was going to be abolished was by violence and he was right."Brown soon became a hero in the eyes of northern extremists and was quick to capitalize on his growing reputation" This quote shows how he was a hero to ending slavery.
Brendan Andros per 3
From my research on John Brown, I believe that he was a madman looking for a fight against slavery. Throughout his life he wanted to overthrow the slavery system. Early in 1859, he rented a farm near Harper's Ferry, Virginia, collected weapons and his “army,” and on October 16 with twenty-one followers attacked and occupied the federal arsenal in Harper's Ferry. Quickly surrounded by militia commanded by Col. Robert E. Lee, Brown’s position was overrun, ten of his followers were killed, and Brown himself was wounded and captured.(History Website) This showed that John Brown didn't stop at anything to end slavery in America even if he was wounded. This shows that Brown used harsh tactics to persuade people to become anti-slavery.
Hannah Epifano
Period:2
John Brown was a hero. I think this because he was trying to abolish slavery, as he was against it. His antislavery attacks weren't meant for murder, they were meant to prove a point. He wanted slavery to end and he used violence to show it. An example of proving his point was at the town of Lawrence where he killed five proslavery men. If you were with the act of slavery then he wanted you gone. As seen in this quote, " There, he became the leader of antislavery guerillas and fought a proslavery attack against the antislavery town of Lawrence. The following year, in retribution for another attack, Brown went to a proslavery town and brutally killed five of its settlers. Brown and his sons would continue to fight in the territory and in Missouri for the rest of the year."
Caitlin D. P:3
Melissa Psaras
Period 1
I believe that John Brown was not a hero but a madman. He may have impacted the abolitionist movement greatly but he still made some idiotic moves. First, he banded together a bunch of people including HIS SONS. I believe he should not have included his children in this mess. They may have been old enough to shot a gun, but they may have not known what they really wanted in the abolitionist movement. Second, his plan to raid the arsenal in Harpers Ferry, Virginia was terribly flawed. Did he know his escape plan? Did he even know what kind of security they had there? He just ran into it without thinking of the long term consequences of what he was about to do. As it says on history.com, “Quickly surrounded by militia commanded by Col.Robert E. Lee, Brown’s position was overrun, ten of his followers were killed, and Brown himself was wounded and captured.” This shows that his plan was awful and that he was likely to get caught and killed no matter what happened. If he did succeed the only hope of him helping the abolitionist movement was to go around promoting anti-slavery with a gun. John Brown did not become an abolitionist icon because he was a hero, but because he died for his cause not matter how stupid it was.
I believe that John Brown is in fact a madman because he took a good cause to an extreme level and he was an extremist unlike most abolitionists were. John Brown took to violence instead of politics or in a non violent matter. He wanted to prove a point but he could have done it another way besides steeling weapons and killings pro slavery people like John Brown did. It takes a real madman to kill for an idea he believed in, a hero would have taken a different approach and more knowledgeable approach. John Brown is a true madman.
Aidan McShane Period 8
To most people they will pick a side but it all depends on perspective. I could think he's a hero for helping to abolish while my best friend thinks he's a mad-man for killing people that didn't believe what he believed in. In the end his madness made him a hero. He may have killed people in his life but he was a hero along with Harriet Beecher Stowe and Abraham Lincoln. They are all famous people that helped to end slavery. John Brown might be a mad-man but that was his way of becoming a hero and saving the lives of many enslaved people.
Michaela Csvihinka
period 1
Caitlyn Gruber
Period:8
I believe that John Brown is a hero. Many people think he is a madman for using the violence that he did to free slaves but the number of slaves that he did set free was the act that I thought made him a hero. In the article "John Brown: Villain or Hero?" by Steven Mintz it says,"Brown led a raid into Missouri, where he and his followers killed a planter and freed eleven slaves." This doesn't sound like a lot of slaves to be set free but I think that he did the right thing because he was just trying to free the slaves.
Mike Kusick Period 8
John Brown was born May 9 1800 and died December 2, 1859. John brown was a white American abolitionist who led violent revolts. Aiming to abolish slavery. John Brown Raided a town in West Virgina called Harpers Ferry. Which was his unsuccessful revolt. He was captured and put to death. I think John Brown was a madman because the teens article says " John Brown would do any means nessesary to end slavery." In my opinion it takes some one who is really crazy to be a white person to do any thing to end slavery. Including using violence or losing your life.
Sam Gertner Period 1
John Brown was an abolitionist who took being an abolitionist to the next level. Unlike most abolitionists, Brown used violence to support his cause and free slaves. In my opinion, Brown was a hero. I think people who supported slavery were the madmen because treating another human being as property and abusing them is just disgusting. I think John Brown was a hero because his goal was to free slaves. He supplied slaves with guns to form an army. I think he was a great humanitarian because he wanted equality for everyone. Also, Brown said this quote: "If it is deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the furtherance of justice... I say, let it be done." This quote shows that Brown is also a man of character because he wants the furtherance of justice. He is very unselfish because he risked his life to improve other peoples' lives.
I believe that abolitionist, John Brown was a hero because his attack on Harpers Ferry, Virginia was a representation of how desperately he wanted to end racial discrimination. " In the 1960s a new generation of scholars viewed Brown as an uncompromising idealist, a principled agitator , and a genuine revolutionary who envisioned an America free of racial prejudice." This shows that he raided Harpers Ferry of their weapons as well as killed several slaves, but only out of pure reason. His actions made a statement, one of which told the world that he cared about those who were imprisoned because it was truly wrong to see innocent people suffer "...These acts of violence were " ultimately noble" because they were necessary to promote the cause of human liberty. Her it is clear that he was simply fighting for his rights. Many think that this is something worth admiration but others would disagree. In my opinion this was an event that opened the eyes of many citizens. It made them question their positions in this complex nation. Therefore, I strongly believe that John Brown was a hero because he disregarded the critics, he followed his heart.
Cailinn Stockman
Per. 2 2/21/2015
Tyler Gaughan per 8
John Brown was an abolitionist from the north, who tried to lead a revolt. John Brown had good intensions but he went overboard. Brown leaned more on the mad side. "His plan to arm the slaves with the weapons he and his men seized from the arsenal was thwarted," within thirty-six hours of the attack most of Brown's men had fallen. John was trying to take an arsenal, even farmers helped to stop him, this shows that people weren't happy about this and what he was doing was wrong.
I believe that John Brown was a madman due to the many deaths in his lifetime and how he was constantly struggling with money. My source states, "In 1831, one of his sons died. Brown fell ill, and his businesses began to suffer, leaving him in terrible debt. In the summer of 1832, shortly after the death of a newborn son, his wife Dianthe died. On June 14, 1833, Brown married 16-year-old Mary Ann Day (April 15, 1817 – May 1, 1884), originally of Washington County, New York.[15] They eventually had 13 children, in addition to the seven children from his previous marriage. In 1836, Brown moved his family to Franklin Mills, Ohio (now known as Kent). There he borrowed money to buy land in the area, building and operating a tannery along the Cuyahoga River in partnership with Zenas Kent.[16] He suffered great financial losses in the economic crisis of 1839, which struck the western states more severely than had the Panic of 1837." This piece of the text is telling you that Brown had to endure the death of his son and wife, and also had to face the fear of being in debt multiple times. This would normally be a lot to take in in the span of about eight years, especially with having to take care of twenty children. My source also states, "In 1837, in response to the murder of Elijah P. Lovejoy, Brown publicly vowed: "Here, before God, in the presence of these witnesses, from this time, I consecrate my life to the destruction of slavery!" Brown was declared bankrupt by a federal court on September 28, 1842. In 1843, four of his children died of dysentery." Because of all the chaos in Brown's life, he must of had something wrong with him, his first wife along with their newborn child had died earlier on, then he became bankrupt, while facing the death of five more of his children. Just one man cannot handle all of that devastation. When Brown was later put into jail for his crimes of murder, he had rejected a friends offer to get him out before his own murder. Brown was pretty much requesting death, as my source states, "Brown refused to be rescued by Silas Soule, a friend from Kansas who had somehow infiltrated the Jefferson County Jail offering to break him out during the night and flee northward. Brown supposedly told Silas that, aged 59, he was too old to live a life on the run from the federal authorities and was ready to die as a martyr."
Melissa Santos
Period: 3
Kayla Plunkett per. 8
Through research, I can conclude that John Brown can be considered a madman. Yes, he did want to abolish slavery which is heroic of him. However, abolishing it through violence and war, can be seen as the madman in him. On biography.com, it states this about John Brown; "Brown led a party of 21 men on a raid of the federal armory of Harpers Ferry in Virginia (now West Virginia), holding dozens of men hostage with the plan of inspiring a slave insurrection." This is showing the madman in him as it shows he desires to abolish slavery through violence, and not peacefully. This is why I am considering John Brown as a madman.
I think that John Brown was a madman. This is because he thought that only one man would be able to raid a fort. He thought the only way slavery was going to end was with violence. But he was also a hero. This is because while the North was think of ways to end slavery politically. He thought that freeing them with bloodshed would be a better idea. He was a hero for this reason because the North wasn't taking action fast enough and in the necessary time.
Dawson Pallotta
John Brown can be accounted for two different types of people a madman or a hero. In my opinion I'm caught in the middle. He was a hero because, "he gave land to fugitive slaves. Him and his wife cared for a black child…he participated in the underground railroad and helped establish the League of Gileadites," (Pbs.org). He thought blacks and whites had equal rights. He was also a madman because he thought violence was the way to solve problems. He raided the federal arsenal Harpers Ferry and was quickly captured. He was convicted of treason and murder and was sentenced to be hung. Hearing this I think John Brown was more of a hero than a madman.
Max
Alyssa Noce
Period 2
John Brown was a man who wanted slaves to be free. His intentions were good, but the way he wanted to stop slavery was wrong. He armed slaves with weapons to fight for their freedom. In 1855, he also assisted some slaves to freedom in the underground railroad. In the South, the people thought of him as a terrorist for breaking into places, stealing their weapons to give to slaves, murdering people, and destroying places. I believe he was a madman because of the way he was trying to stop slavery. A quote that shows this is, "In 1859, Brown and 21 of his followers attacked and occupied the federal arsenal in Harpers Ferry. Their goal was to capture supplies and use them to arm a slave rebellion." (website) http://www.history.com/topics/john-brown. He wanted to start a mini war over slavery. He would later be hanged, but became an anti-slavery icon.
John Brown was a hero. John brown was an abolitionist and would resort to violence. John Brown is a hero because he risked his life to free slaves. He felt so strongly that owning slaves was so bad that John Brown ended up loosing his life. A hero is someone who risks their life to save someone else's, and that is what John Brown did. He risked his life to save slaves life's.
Christina Moniz
Period 3
John Brown, was he a mad man or a hero. In my eyes, he was a mad man. Although he did free many slaves from the south, him and his band of extremists sluaghtered the people of the south. "They dragged James Doyle and two of his sons, William and Drury, from their farmhouse. When the trio tried to escape, James Doyle was shot down and his sons hacked to death with short sabers. Doyle’s wife, daughter and 14-year-old son John were spared. At the home of Allen Wilkinson, the avengers ignored the pleas of his sick wife and two children and took Wilkinson away as a prisoner. He was soon dispatched with one of the swords."(History.net)That piece of text explains in vivid detail, how John and his "Army" killed innocent citizens of the south. Not to mention, but John Brown was of the many reasons why The American Civil War started.
Tommy Brisch
I think that John Brown was a hero. I think this because when I started to read more about him a article said, "Brown also took part in the Underground Rail Road, gave land to free African Americans and eventually established the League of GIleadites a group formed with the intention of protecting black citizens from slave hunters." This quote shows how he tried to help slaves and African Americans from slave hunters so that's why I don't think hes a mad man. I also read that he thought that violence was the only way to get rid of slavery so he got into a battle with the military but he ended up getting hanged. But even though he thought there had to be violence for slavery to go away I don't think hes a mad man for trying to get rid of slavery.
Sarah Townson period 2
Based on the research I read on John Brown, my opinion on wether he was a madman or hero, is that he was in many ways both of these labels. It's a hardship for me to pick between the two, I'd lean more towards a madman in all honesty, however, he did help the situation of slavery at the time, believe it or not. "From his organizing of the massacre at Potawotomie Creek, Kansas to protest slavery entering entering the new territory to what would be his last radical stand at Harper's Ferry, Brown played a vital role in the anti-slavery movement," (as stated in the article http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvhs1321.html first paragraph). John Brown was an extremist in many ways, but, he had strong beliefs and acted upon them. Although he put a bad rap on the northerners, making the southerners believe all anti-slavery citizens would revolt with violence and force, he opened many eyes to the reality of it all. He knew some type of violence and war would spike but Brown did take it bit too far too soon. In the raid of Harper's Ferry, with Brown's 22 men, they had, "... murdered five men who supported slavery, although none actually owned slaves," (as stated in the article http://www.wvculture.org/history/jnobrown.html second paragraph). John Brown and his men even shot a free African-American man in the area. This gave him the view of a madman even though he was acting on his beliefs. However, if John Brown had succeeded in this raid, would you still be calling him a madman?
Katherine Samonek
Period 1
John Brown clearly was a mad-man, sure some of his values and the things he had done were heroic but the bad outweighs the good. “To show these barbarians that we, too, have rights." He and four of his sons, and three other men, dragged five unarmed men and boys from their homes along Kansas's Pottawatomie Creek, and hacked and dismembered their bodies.(http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/)” Brown states that the people who support slavery are barbaric but in reality killing people like that is revolting and even more barbaric. Violence is never the answer and here Brown is supporting it, and outraging many people in the South. His tactics to punish people just made the situation even worse, and in no way was going to stop slavery. It did not really benefit anyone and created a war of revenge. Another situation where John Brown was not exactly in the right mind was the raid on Harpers Ferry to free slaves and steal federal arsenal but his plans were not very well thought out."You're walking into a perfect steel-trap," Frederick Douglass said to Brown, "and you will never get out alive."(http://www.pbs.org) Brown led 21 men on a suicide mission where 12 people had been killed, 2 of them his sons. He was captured and later executed, they call John Brown a martyr but I’m not exactly sure if it’s deserved.
Michelle A.
Period 1
Anna Civitelli Period 1
I personally believe that John Brown was a madman but he was a hero at the same time. Reasons he was a madman are"Two years later, Brown led a raid into Missouri, where he and his followers killed a planter..." Also " During his 1859 raid on Harpers Ferry, seventeen people died." A heroic thing he did was "... and freed eleven slaves" In my opinion he was both a madman and a hero.
http://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/failure-compromise/essays/john-brown-villain-or-hero
I believe that John Brown is a hero and not a madman. I think this because Brown, as USA TODAY stated, "believed in abolishing slavery through any means necessary, including violence." This shows that Brown is doing a good thing by trying to get rid of slavery by any way possible. This is a heroic deed because slavery was a big issue during the 1800s. History.com wrote, "Justifying his actions as the will of God, Brown soon became a hero in the eyes of Northern extremists." This gives an example of how Brown was a hero to northerners and slaves that were banned from their freedoms.
Andrew, period 3
I personally thing that John Brown is a hero. I would say he is a hero because from my own research i found out that even though he killed many people, he wasn't just killing them to kill them. Brown had a point, he wanted to free slaves, so that's what he ended up doing. In 1858 Brown freed 11 slaves, for killing on planter. It's also hard to say if he is a madman too because he did kill 17 people with the help of his men.But, I still think that he is a hero since he truly believed that black people should be treated the same as everyone.
Madison Samperi
Period 3
John Brown was a HERO. He was a hero because he got the North rallied up to start a civil war. He took a bunch of slaves and got guns to rebel against slave owners. He was unsuccessful in his "battle" but he got the south scared. The south started to realize that the north was out to destroy their way of life.
Brett Cahill
I believe John Brown was a hero. Although his methods of getting things done were violent and his actions evoked many negative views on northerners his actions overall were a positive influence. He helped hasten the Civil War as his raid on Harper's Fairy got him hanged. This raid showed that the only way to solve this feud of slavery was through violence. Overall his actions make me believe he is a not a madman but a hero.
-Tyler V
John Brown was neither a madman or hero. He did crazy things like start a war but it was for the right cause. He believed in this cause so much that he was willing to die for it. If someone who is a confederate then they might say that he is a madman, but if you are union then you would call him a hero. So there are many different opinions. But to me I would say that he is a hero because without the civil war just think where our country might be now.
lilly macfadyen- period 8
Megan McFarland
I think John Brown is a madman because he kills slave owners and rescues slaves. My reasoning of this is because he lead a raid(army) and killed 17 people. He also was a terrorist,and lastly he killed over a dozen of men and women to make Kansas a free state.
Megan McFarland
Blog 18
This picture means that the slavery is accepted by the white people because they think it is right. i also think it means that white people want to be the only kind of people to be on this planet. Lastly, in the picture, it looks like two presidents are pushing down a slave.
Megan McFarland
Blog 18
This picture means that the slavery is accepted by the white people because they think it is right. i also think it means that white people want to be the only kind of people to be on this planet. Lastly, in the picture, it looks like two presidents are pushing down a slave.
Even though John Brown wanted to abolish slavery, I think he was a madman. In an article it states, "...believed in abolishing slavery though any means necessary, including violence." Another article states, "During the Bleeding Kansas conflicts, Brown and his sons led attacks on pro-slavery residents." This makes me believe that John Brown was a madman because if he was a hero, he would not attack people to get what he wanted even if it was to stop slavery.
Meghan L.
Period 8
Megan O'Meara Period 3
After researching John Brown I fell that he is a hero. He was a very dedicated man and fought for what he believed in no matter what. Pbs website states, "His lack of funds, however, did not keep him from supporting causes he believed in". He fought to abolish slavery for a long time. He risked his well being to try and help African American people. I think that if Brown set out on a mission to help people in need that he should be remembered as a hero, regardless if his actions were successful. He brought attention to the matter.
I believe John brown was a bit of both madman and hero. He was a hero because he was the first person to take drastic action against slavery. He was a madman because he for attacking a federal armory with a small army of 21 men. How do you expect to take over a federal armory that has cannons and guns with spears and out-dated muzzle loaders! No sane person would do that. He was a hero because he was the first person to take drastic action against slavery.
(source)http://www.history.com/topics/john-brown
P3
Mark Hammer
I think John Brown was more of a madman because even though he freed slaves he killed a lot of people doing it which didn't make up for freeing the slaves. In the passage it states "During his 1859 raid on Harpers Ferry, seventeen people died." Seventeen isn't all he killed it adds up to a lot more which is why i think he's a madman. Kaitlyn Reagan
After researching about John Brown I came to the conclusion that he was a hero. He got his word out and spread awareness about slavery, but he had to use force in order to do that. But Brown did not become a figure of major significance until 1855 where he followed five of his sons to the Kansas territory. There, he became the leader of antislavery people and fought a proslavery attack against the antislavery town of Lawrence. Brown's followers also killed five slavery supporters at Pottawatomie. He was violent but he is one of the reasons we banned slavery in the U.S. His violence has made all the difference.
Rachel C period 1
I believe that John Brown was a madman. In his own eyes he thought that he was a hero and doing something for the people that he thought everyone wanted to happen. He ended up paying for the things he done and till the day he died he believed that what he belived and had done was right. Many people did think the same things as John Brown but he took it to another level in which made him a mad man.
Sam K
Period 1
Jake mccarthy pr.1
John brown was a hero. His measures were extreme but no one else would tale it that far and that is what the abolitionists needed. When he killed 5 men in Kansas it was a stretch but when he took over steam boat he was just doing what he belived was right. "He was the only one who wanted to take it to the next leval." John brown was had hero because he was doing what he belived should be done.
In my opinion, I believe John Brown was a madman because he believed that violence could overthrow the slavery system. His followers once killed 5 slavery supporters and 21 of his followers attacked and occupied the federal arsenal in Harpers Ferry to take all the weapons to us them to arm a slave rebellion. Even though he was trying to put a stop to slavery, I think he could have done it in a less violent way, instead of killing people.
Kelly Sipos
Period 8
John Brown was a hero. Yes, the things he did were a little extreme but the issue of slavery was so big it started a war. His extreme actions were what our country needed to over throw slavery. “In 1859, Brown and 21 of his followers attacked and occupied the federal arsenal in Harpers Ferry. Their goal was to capture supplies and use them to arm a slave rebellion,” (from the History Channel) –Victoria Yencik, Period 3.
Samantha Sisson
Period 3
Even though many people have been arguing for both sides of John Brown I believe he is a bit of both. You can't choose a side, his cause was a very just cause but the way he went about pushing it through was the way of a madman. "...would not be deterred from his mission of abolishing slavery." Sated pbs.org's article on John Brown. John believed that blacks and whites were equal, which was odd in this time. The man felt as if they deserved the same rights as whites, not just to be freed. But, he was a killer, "...brutally killed five of its settlers.". Brown killed people just because they didn't share his views, which is unacceptable. "...lead a war to free slaves." The fact that he wanted to start a war to free slaves showed he was a bit crazy, but in the end he was right, a war was the only way to free slaves.
His action was certainly not responsible or constructive - encouraging an armed rebellion of slaves. It poisoned the atmosphere of debate, and brought it home to the public that the differences between North and South would never be resolved, except through armed conflict.
Briana Stockbridge per.2
i do not think john brown was a mad man he had his way and his way it may have not been the most peace full way but it would have got the job dun he could of had all the number on his sides if he freed all the those slaves he could ave had the the weapons too but they dint belive his way was the right way and he died because of it. joey maillet
I think John Brown is a madman. "The success of the proslavery guerrillas inspired Brown, with four of his sons and two other accomplices, to murder five reputedly proslavery settlers who lived along Pottawatomie Creek." I think it's okay to have your opinion but i think he took it too far. Also, "By early 1858 he had succeeded in enlisting a small “army” of insurrectionists, including three of his sons, whose mission was to foment rebellion among the slaves." Like i said before, you can have your opinions but i don't think that was necessary. Being proslavery wasn't against the law, people were allowed to own slaves but antislavery people didn't agree. Antislavery people should just worry about them not turning into slave states, they don't need to worry about the others.
Alexa Allan
Period 2
I think John Brown was a mad man. I think he was a mad man because he did horrible things to slaves and it ruined the country. I know this because on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Brown_(abolitionist) it says, " John Brown was a white American abolitionist who believed armed insurrection was the only way to overthrow the institution of slavery in the United States." "Brown's followers also killed five slavery supporters at Pottawatomie." these quotes show how bad of a man John Brown was.
Anna Delaney, Period 3
My opinion would be that John Brown is a madman.I think this because he is trying to stop slavery by sheding blood instead of doing it in a political manner or have the Executive branch actually enforce the law. With John Browns attack on Fort Sumpter he causes an uprising in both the North and South soon to be lead to the Civil war between anti slavery and slavery.He believed that God sent him to stop it immediately which in his case wasn't going to happen it had to take time for an issue like that to resolve.
jaryana period 2
John Brown was an american abolitionist who wanted to end slavery a different way than others did. John Brown wanted to overtake the southerners aresenal and bring other slaves/abolitionists with him to kill slave owners and free slaves. In the article that I read about how John Brown wanted to end slavery for good and only wanted to do it by killing off the southerners who supported slavery and slavemasters, also he would also kill a whole town just to end slavery and would not go down without a fight.
Zach Hernandez P.1
I believe that John Brown was a madman because of the murders he had committed. John Brown quoted "I will do anything to have it my way." Which is also why he had committed those murders but John Brown was then killed after raiding a town in Harpers Ferry, Virginia.
John Brown was a mad man because he used violence to end slavery instead of doing it peacefully, with only a small group of men against a whole army. Instead of using other tactics he basically fought into his own death and deserved to be hanged.
Lucas Cuseo
Period 3
Michael Wisentaner
John Brown is a crazy madmen. He deserves to die. I understand that he dreads slavery and he wants to abolish it, but you do not try to take over and steal from a US Military base. He killed his own countries soldiers and Marines just to steal from his own government. He tried to kill and over throw his own government, which makes him a terrorist. Why would he kill the people who protects him. He should of stuck to his first amendment and protested instead of turning to violence.
I would say a hero because he was willing to die for his cause but not just that he want to do was a good thing he wanted to free slaves. Most athletes which are classified as heroes are not willing to die for what they believe in much less for other people who are considered pond scummat the time. -GEORGE LAZOR PERIOD 8
No question at all; John Brown was a hero. Today we can all agree that slavery is harsh and brutal correct? John Brown sure did knew that. He also knew that there were many anti slavery people out there as well who got their point about slavery across in a calm manner. John Brown however, a fanatical abolitionist used violence to prove his point. The big thing that John Brown did was on October 16, 1859. On this day he led 21 men at intrude a military base arsenal with the help of 21 other men (slaves) in the hopes to arm the slaves and rebel. This is when people think he was a madman for intruding his own military and getting his people killed but it was for a disgusting cause that needed to end and we can all agree today that slavery was a complete shame to the nation. John Brown was a complete hero.
TJ Rohach period 3
In my opinion, John Brown was a madman and a hero. He was a madman because his own belief was to kill people to get his way. He wanted to end slavery but instead of doing so peacefully, he used violence to try to solve his problems. On the other hand, he was a hero because he felt he needed to stand up for what he believed in. Many others were afraid to do so, but he pulled together a group of men with the same position on slavery as him, and fought to show that they would not let anything they didn't like slide. He showed everyone that they would not be pushed around and not be forced to do things they did not believe in.
Emma McCarthy
Period 8
Benny Gonzalez 3/10 period 8
John Brown was a man who killed many slave owners to abolish slavery. He thought that using violence would help end slavery. So in my mind John Brown is a hero because he was willing to do anything to help free slaves even if he had to put his sons on the line.
In some twisted way, John Brown was a hero. It showed the Southerners that the north wouldn't stand for slavery, and it helped start the American Civil War, which we won, but the violence was excessive. This supports the idea of John Brown being a madman. I think he was a little of both. At the time, it was mad for him to kill people before the actual war even started, but it led up to the fact that slavery was ended, giving him the hero affect. If I absolutely say he was one or the other, though, I would say he's a hero for standing up for what he believes in, despite his hard past.
Sabrina P1
As I researched John Brown on my own, I began to look at his life as a spiritual battle. This man had a strong conviction and belief that he was supposed to end slavery. He believed that God intended for him to do this. Unfortunately, he did some ungodly things during the efforts to end slavery. I do think he is a hero from bringing so much attention to the need to end slavery, but I believe he went mad in the process.
Mikaela D.
Period 1
I believe John Brown was a madman, because I don't think killing people is going to resolve the problem that was slavery. "Brown, as history documents, believed in abolishing slavery though any means necessary, including violence." This quote explains how John Brown believed that violence was the only way to end slavery, and that wasn't the case. Dakota Northrop p.3
I can see why John Brown would be considered both hero by the North and madmen by the South but I believe John Brown is a hero. He thought slavery could only be ended with violence and, honestly, that is what everyone else found out too, it just took them longer. Even Lincoln in the end said in his "a house divided cannot stand" and that "it will not cease, until a crisis shall have been reached, and passed" implying that there needs to be some sort of violent action/occurrence and only then will this momentous issue of slavery will be solved. He believed what he was doing was the right thing, he wanted something to be done about slavery and thought, why not he be the one to do it. Also, according to History.com, all five of his sons were with him the whole way and if, even one out of the five, found any reason to believe him mad-even if they are his sons-one of them could have disagreed with him but they all stood by him and his beliefs. That is why I consider John Brown as more of a hero than a madman.
Jessica Bajorinas Period 3
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