What Is The Significance Of The Harpers Ferry Raid

Abolitionism quickly gained popularity since 1821 when William Lloyd Garrison assisted in writing an anti-slavery newspaper, The Genius of Universal Emancipation, with Benjamin Lundy. In 1831, abolitionism continued to grow in popularity when William Lloyd Garrison started The Liberator. Although there remained not a need for slaves in the North, slavery remained very big in the South for growing “cash crops.” The majority of the abolitionists who inhabited the North organized speeches, meetings, and newspapers to spread their cause. Initially, only small revolts and fights occurred. However, major events along the way led to the Harpers Ferry Raid. For example, with Kansas choosing whether or not to become a free or slave state. That became the biggest event up until John Brown’s Raid. John Brown had always despised slavery, and this enhanced his chance as an organized revolt. The effect of his raid on Harpers Ferry affected what the South thought about abolitionists and the power that they held. In the

Ten men ended up dead in the Harpers Ferry raid and four escaped it. In a newspaper editorial in the New York Times Henry Raymond wrote in October 1859, “The Harpers Ferry story, judged on its merits proves little or nothing of immediate significance, either political or social” (Finkelman 119). In the court case of John Brown got found guilty of treason against the commonwealth of Virginia. On December 2 John Brown got executed. On his execution day Brown said, “I John Brown am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty, land: will never be purged away; but with Blood. I had as I now think: vainly flattered myself that without very much bloodshed; it might be done.” The other six raiders happened to get executed in the next three months. Many abolitionists developed sadness because of the event, but the fearful southerners started