1859

John Brown left an indelible mark on American history. His so-called raid at Harpers Ferry resulted in both reverence and revulsion. When Brown and his small, integrated army of twenty-one men invaded Harpers Ferry and took over the federal armory, arsenal, and rifle factory, it was the fulfillment of a pledge to God to increase hostility toward slavery. It was an attempt to disrupt the security of investing in people as property. It was treason, murder, and insurrection. John Brown's raid was also a turning point in American history, away from compromise and toward war.