American experience. John Brown's holy war. 4 of 5

Description

Martyr, madman, murderer, hero: John Brown remains one of history's most controversial and misunderstood figures. In the 1850s, he and his ragtag guerrilla group embarked on a righteous crusade against slavery that was based on religious faith -- yet carried out with shocking violence. His execution at Harpers Ferry sparked a chain of events that led to the Civil War. Horton talks about Kansas -pro - slavery vs. free soil forces, Slavery Expansion - Lincoln contain, Kansas is battleground, Kansas - John Brown determined to stop expansion, Sumner - attack, Brooks sent 100s of canes, serious, Pottawatomie - accepting that John Brown killed, did so for principle, Newby - letter from wife, personal commitment to be w/ John Brown, Douglass - thought plan doomed, John Brown naive about military might, -Douglass - John Brown disappointed not to have him along - Martyr - resignation - Plan - breaking in easy, but he stayed too long, Southern fear - raid a symbol of North's willingness to strike, Raid - evidence more important than his own survival, Icon - symbol of complexity of US, race at core of contradiction.

Runtime

28 minutes

Series

Subjects

Contributor

Geography

Genre

Database

Alexander Street

Direct Link