John Brown (May 9, 1800-December 2, 1859) was a
Congregationalist abolitionist whose violent actions to hurt
slavery helped start the American Civil War. His raid on
Harper's Ferry Virginia in 1859 was designed to start a slave
insurrection, but no slaves joined and it failed. Brown was
tried and hung for treason to the state of Virginia. Unlike most
abolitionists, Brown believed that the use of violence was
morally justifiable in the fight against slavery. He was born
into a religious Yankee family, and was taught from a young age
that slavery was incompatible with the message of the Bible.
Brown became a part of the Underground Railroad, then went to
the newly formed territory of Kansas in 1855 to participate in
the fight between the "free staters" and the pro-slavery
"Bushwhackers". In May 1856, Brown and several other men
(including four of his sons) attacked the homes of slavery
supporters near Pottawatomie Creek in Kansas and killed all of
the inhabitants with swords. Harper's Ferry 1859 Brown now made