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Was John Brown An Abolitionist

Decent Essays

In the 1800s, America faced a recurring topic. The topic of slavery was almost never ending. Slavery continued to grow into an even bigger issue. It surfaced the abolitionist movement. Abolitionist did not believe in slavery; however, they did not see African Americans as equals. The most controversial abolitionist of this time was John Brown. Were his methods of ethical reasoning or not? He supported the abolishment of slavery, but his motives and methods were questionable. John Brown was born into a very religious family. His father helped runaway slaves. As Brown got older, he witnessed a slave being brutally beaten. Witnessing the beatings of the slave and his father helping the runaway slaves ignited Brown into becoming an abolitionist. Although he was an abolitionist, he was also a businessman. With his businesses, Brown found ways to raise funds and seek hiding places for runaway slaves (Commire). Brown said before God and a room full of witnesses that he dedicates his life to the abolishment of slavery (Current Events). He was a such a strong believer in the abolishment of slavery, that he believed that slavery was an evil and should be destroyed by …show more content…

Although, his intentions were for a good cause, they were unethical. Brown’s unethical methods and actions began a war that ended slavery. He died for the freedom of men of color. His death awoke many new abolitionists. The Pottawatomie Massacre and Harpers Ferry were the first steps to the Civil War. His death became a song, “John Brown’s Body,” that soldiers from the north would sing after winning or losing a battle. “Abraham Lincoln said upon hearing that Brown had been hanged: ‘Old Brown has just been executed. We cannot object, even though he agreed with us in thinking slavery wrong. That cannot excuse violence, bloodshed, and treason,’” (Current Events). Three years later, Abraham Lincoln passed the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing the

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