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. Banks talks about Early life - hand to mouth, tough existence, Early life - stories of Bible resonate, children die, Religion - Life of 1830s - 50s continuation of Bible, Religion - John Brown believed life a moral test, shaped destiny, Southern Power - think North more likely to secede, - Pottawatomie - seems to be defining moment, Southern Power - expanding to West, Caribbean, etc., It looked bleak, it looked very bleak", - Religion - Biblical & contemporary history merged, Religion - John Brown saw himself as walking in Biblical shoes, Sons - modern men, doubters, John Brown didn't question truth, Farmer - John Brown agrarian man, physical world, of Bible, Man of times - we judge him, Sanity - white Americans today regard John Brown as a fanatic, Owen/Death of John Brown's Mother, Death of Mother - important, John Brown said defining trauma, Personality - rage, identified w/Blacks' sense of loss, Relationships w/Blacks - trusted him, matched anger, Personality - where did rage come from, Personality - charisma, intensity, emotional furnace, Slave Boy Story, Slave Boy Story true? enough that John Brown believed it, Slave Boy - as orphan, John Brown identifies, - Slave Boy - equally clever, John Brown identifies as orphan, Shepherd - John Brown's gift, could care for animals, Shepherd - brought affection he rarely showed humans, Shepherd - link to the Bible (Abraham, Christ) ennobling, Shepherd - custodial relations, men part of his flock, Personality - contradiction authoritative/custodial".