ID: Harpers Ferry Raid
When: October 16-18, 1859
Who: John Brown, a fervent abolitionist
What:
John Brown, with a small group of followers, seized the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia), hoping to spark a slave uprising and end slavery in the South.
Impact:
- Heightened Tensions: The raid intensified sectional tensions between the North and South, fueling the already heated debate over slavery.
- Martyrdom of Brown: Despite failing to achieve his goals, Brown’s capture and execution made him a martyr in the eyes of many abolitionists, further solidifying their determination to end slavery.
- Southern Fears: The raid fueled Southern fears of a Northern conspiracy to overthrow slavery and led to a surge in pro-slavery sentiment.
- Prelude to War: The Harpers Ferry raid contributed to the growing polarization and helped set the stage for the Civil War.