John Brown notably impacted the abolition movement of the 1850's.

Early Life

John Brown was born May 9 1800 in Torrington Connecticut. His family was very religious, John's father was strongly against slavery. When John was five him and his family moved to northern Ohio to a small district that would soon be known for its antislavery views. In John's first fifty years he moved across the country, from Ohio to Pennsylvania to Massachusetts to finally New York. John worked as a farmer, wool merchant, tanner, and a land speculator. John was never financially successful and in his forties he had to file for bankruptcy. But even when John didn't have much money he still supported the causes he believed in. He also helped out with the Underground Railroad and in 1851 he helped the League of Gileadites (PBS).

Involvement

“In 1847 Frederick Douglass met Brown for the first time in Springfield, Massachusetts. Of the meeting Douglass stated that, "though a white gentleman, [Brown] is in sympathy a black man, and as deeply interested in our cause, as though his own soul had been pierced with the iron of slavery." It was at this meeting that Brown first outlined his plan to Douglass to lead a war to free slaves” (PBS). Even though Brown dedicated his life to the cause of antislavery he was not a big figure until 1855 where he followed his five sons to the Kansas territory and there he became the leader of the antislavery guerillas “and fought a proslavery attack against the antislavery town of Lawrence” (PBS). Later that year, in retribution for another attack John went to a proslavery town and brutally murdered five of their people both Brown and his sons would continue the fight in Missouri for the rest of the year. In the war of Virginia Brown was hit and was quickly captured and was transported to Charlestown, Virginia where he was in trial and convicted of treason and before he was executed Brown was allowed to speak to the court (PBS)

"… I believe to have interfered as I have done, . . . in behalf of His despised poor, was not wrong, but right. Now, if it be deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the furtherance of the ends of justice, and mingle my blood further with the blood of my children, and with the blood of millions in this slave country whose rights are disregarded by wicked, cruel, and unjust enactments, I submit: so let it be done.” (PBS). Although initially shocked by Brown's exploits, many Northerners began to speak favorably of the militant abolitionist. "He did not recognize unjust human laws, but resisted them as he was bid. . . .," said Henry David Thoreau in an address to the citizens of Concord, Massachusetts. "No man in America has ever stood up so persistently and effectively for the dignity of human nature. . . ." (PBS). Brown was hanged on December 9, 1859.

Leagcy

John Brown left his mark on the abolition movement by being a big part of the movement, his family was against slavery as well so they supported Brown in his crusade. Brown is also remembered for raiding an army post in Harper's Ferry, Virginia. Where he would hope for slaves across the nation to hear what he has done and travel to the army post and help him with the cause.