John Brown

Izayha (Student)

When Brown was hung in 1859 for his raid on Harpers Ferry, Virginia, many saw him as the harbinger of the future.  For Southerners, he was the embodiment of all their fears—a white man willing to die to end slavery—and the most potent symbol yet of aggressive Northern antislavery sentiment.  In May 1858, Brown held a secret anti-slavery convention in Canada.  About 50 black and white supporters adopted Brown’s anti-slavery constitution. In December, Brown moved beyond talk and plans.  He led a daring raid from Kansas across the border into Missouri, where he killed one slave owner and freed 11 slaves.