American experience. John Brown's holy war. 2 of 6

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. Frye talks about Harper's Ferry - bottom of a teacup, H Ferry/Plan - as many weapons as Grant's Army, Plan - mountains as fortress, transport forces/slaves, Plan - chose Virginia to strike at the breeder, Religion/Plan - God chose John Brown, raid in God's hands, Religion - John Brown spoke to God daily looking for direction, Religion/Raid - could not fail in hands of God, Martyr - John Brown didn't come to Harpers Ferry to make himself a martyr, - Raid - John Brown almost ended up dead, Martyr - John Brown can't plan his own martyrdom, Martyr - John Brown would succeed w/ God, no plan to be martyr, Raid - was attack on government, John Brown hated law of land, Slavery - John Brown thought government wrong & needed to change, Cook - disguised him self as a writer researching the region, Cook - real purpose to collect intelligence, Cook - spent time w/ Lewis Washington, Lewis Washington - inherited Frederick the Great sword, Cook - symbols of revolution, Washington's weapons, Raid - description of cold, foggy night, Raid - armory gate, seized night watchman, plan working, Raid - only one night watchman!, Raid - going wrong, watchman warned train conductor, - Raid/Hayward Shepard - scared by John Brown's men, ran, Raid/Hayward Shepard - first shots struck a free black, After Raid - church bells, "fire fueled by abolitionists".

Runtime

29 minutes

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Database

Alexander Street

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