John Brown's Role In The Civil War

In 1854 another problem arose which resulted in Congress passing the Kansas-Nebraska Act which repealed the Missouri Compromise, this act was introduced by Stephen A. Douglas a chairman of Committee on Territories, this act allowed the people of Kansas and Nebraska to choose rather they wanted slavery in their boundary or not through the power of popular sovereignty, the Pro-slavery settlers won the election but were charged with accusations that they cheated, in order to make sure that the vote was right they ordered a re-election but the Pro-slavery refused and the refusal resulted into a battle. John Brown an Anti-slavery leader who believed that he was sent here by god to kill anyone who was pro-slavery. He led the anti-slavery force which gained the nickname “Bleeding Kansas”. The fight was soon stopped, and a final election was held, this time the anti-slavery settlers won the vote and was announced that Kansas would become a free state in 1861. In conclusion the Compromises and Acts may have had their flaws but it they some how manage to solve the slavery issues.

“Bleeding Kansas” had many senseless deaths and tragedies caused by the fight for slavery to either become a part of or become eradicated from the new state, Kansas. David Atchison was a major proslavery advocate who believed that slavery needed to be expanded because of its intrinsic value in the culture and economy of the South (Hollitz 210). Sara Robinson, on the other hand, believed that slavery was giving the South unfair political power while simultaneously giving them an economic power that was outdated and inhibiting to the future of the United States (213). Without ever meeting, these two influential figures went head to head in the issue of slavery and greatly influenced both of their parties. Robinson would eventually come out with the victory along with her “free soilers” group and would blaze a trail for many more to challenge the institution of slavery. Atchison would come to lose his battle and a portion of his great reputation and become known as the hell-raiser for his known and unknown relations with the violence during “Bleeding Kansas.” The events in Kansas seemed to bring up many issues that would come to change the face of the United States forever.

John Brown retaliated against pro-slavery settlers for the “sack of Lawrence” by setting out for revenge for Lawrence and killed and chopped up 5 slavery supporters. This violence led to Kansas being called "Bleeding Kansas". The Lecompton Constitution could be approved "with" or "without slavery, but even if "without slavery" were chosen, slave-owners already present would still be protected. Kansas would have slaves either way. Buchanan gave his approval to boycott the election and Lecompton Constitution. Douglas got rid of the Constitution. As a result the Democratic party was terribly divided, Kansas was now left between a territory and a state, and the slavery question was still not answered.

John Brown was very similar to Nat Turner they both believed that they were chosen by god to lead slaves into freedom and if that required a fight then that was what they had to do. John Brown had a goal and that was to abolish slavery throughout the united states. The trouble in Kansas began when the Nebraska Act was signed by President Pierce, this act engaged that people make a determination on whether Kansas territory should be free or slave. In hopes that Kansas would become free of slaves, the opposing side which was named Border Ruffians invaded their territory and forced the pro-slavery election. After John heard about the fear of Kansas becoming a slave state and after also hearing that the Border Ruffians ransacked the town of Lawrence

This is when his mission started to become more and more violent. Brown published an essay instructing African Americans to stay together to resist this new law. He ordered them to even if it took killing the slave catchers, that’s what they had to do. He formed an armed resistance against the Fugitive Slave Law. Brown’s United League recruited 44 African Americans. Following this, the Kansas-Nebraska Act surfaced, which allowed settlers to decided whether or not to be free or to practice slavery. Then, in order to achieve the southern support in the 1856 Democratic presidential nomination, Stephen Douglas proposed to divide the new territory into two. This meant that Kansas, since it was in the more southern of the two territories, would be made into a slave state. This would lead to the start of an organized militia against slavery.

John Brown was a misguided fanatic. He was admired by many abolitionists for standing up for the rights. However, was seen outrageous in the eyes of many Southerners. He has went far beyond outrageous and carried out a killing spree in order to prove slavery was wrong. He had a plan, however stirred in a lot of problems along with it gained him the name a “misguided fanatic”.

Finally, the issue of “Bloody Kansas” was a major political factor caused by westward expansion. Once it was resolved that Kansas’s stance on slavery would be determined by popular sovereignty, people flocked to Kansas to make their vote count. The “Border Ruffians” won the controversial vote, which resulted in Kansas being a slave state. However, the abolitionists refused to recognize the pro-slavery government, so they set up a second provincial government in Topeka, Kansas. This episode led to a skirmish between the Ruffians and the abolitionists, like in Lawrence, Kansas in May of 1856. This was a prelude to the actual civil war and showed that even if there was a “fair” vote to determine a Territories slave law, it didn’t mean that all the people would abide by the law. These political episodes involving the ever expanding west showed the weakness of the Union.

Channing felt that acquiring Texas would not only spark conflict with Mexico but would also create problems in the United States in regards to slavery. This issue over the extension of slavery in Texas presaged Bleeding Kansas, a series of violent political confrontations involving anti-slavery Free Soilers and pro-slavery Southerners that took place in the Kansas Territory between 1854

This was known as the Pottawatomie Massacre. The Pottawatomie Massacre, which was John Brown's idea, led to many other killing that happened in Kansas in the months that followed. The Kansas territory then got the nickname "Bleeding Kansas." Brown hoped that the Pottawatomie Massacre would help end the idea of slavery in Kansas, but in reality it frightened proslavery settlers to the point in which they started to leave Kansas. Them doing so left Kansas to the anti-slavery settlers. Although the Pottawatomie Massacre was a big reason many proslavery settlers left, many also fled Kansas because of battles that had been happening between opposing sides thought Kansas. These battle mostly happened during 1856 and

Brown made many violent attacks through his long attempt to end slavery. One of Brown's rather horrific attacks was the murder of five pro-slavery settlers in the Pottawatomie Creek. It was once stated that brown did this act of violence out of rage, and it

Brown needs no introduction. He is the radical who, some would say, was a cause of the Civil War for "Bleeding Kansas" and "Harper's Ferry." Brown drove sectionalism further between states' rights advocates and abolitionists. Contemporaries in the north praised Brown's actions while southern contemporaries feared him. Post Civil War reactions added

turned violent, with bloody episodes like antislavery partisan John Brown’s organized massacre of proslavery forces in

After the bill was passed, pro-slavery and anti-slavery supporters rushed in to settle in Kansas to affect the outcome of the first election. Pro-slavery settlers won the election, but were charged with fraud by anti-slavery settlers. The anti-slavery settlers held another election, but the pro-slavery settlers refused to vote. This resulted in two opposing legislatures within the Kansas territory. The opposition created violence between the two groups, causing many bloody battles that greatly increased the death rate, giving Kansas the nickname “Bleeding Kansas”. President Pierce, supporting pro-slavery, sent in Federal troops to stop the violence and disperse the anti-slavery legislature. Another election was held and pro-slavery supporters won. They were again charged with election fraud. As a result, Congress did not recognize the constitution the pro-slavery settlers adopted, and Kansas wasn’t allowed to become a state. Eventually,

When fighting for something bigger then you, you need a very thought out plan to get you through without any problems. Brown was very motivated to get this started and done but didn’t put as much thought into it. First off, he needed to find those who were willing to put their life on the line to get slaves out of the south. There were many northerners who believed in all Brown has said and thinks it will work. His plan consists having the strongest set up a camp at the top of a mountain and having men move up and down it, calling it the “Subterranean Passway.” (page 9) Somehow, he need to get his hands-on guns, because some southerners would probably put up a fight to keep their slaves. Being an older man and not being looked at seriously he had to find people who were “…known to be of good character, and of sound mind and suitable age…” (page 69) Before making this plan happen they went to the state of Kansas to help defend Lawrence and give Brown an idea of what could happen. Brown and his men traveled by foot for thirty-five miles and during the night. (page 59) The trip to Kansas ended with many of his man being put into jail for about five to fifteen days. Unfortunately, this was going to be nothing compared to the punishment they get when they try

     In May of 1856, Congressman Preston Brooks of South Carolina entered the nearly empty senate chamber and beat Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner with a cane. Brooks felt violated by Sumner’s “Crime Against Kansas” speech, which provoked the retaliation. This attack spread the idea that violence might be able to solve the problem of slavery. In October 1859, abolitionist John Brown, led a violent attack. He and his band of 21 men and attacked the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. They hoped to spark a slave rebellion that would end slavery, and in John Brown’s words, “purge this land with blood.” Brown’s attack was one of the final causes that sparked the Civil War.