JOHN BROWN 1800 1859 ABOLITIONIST BROWN JOHN 1800 1859 ABOLITION REFORM MOVEMENTS AMERICAN CULTURE JOHN BROWN WAS BORN IN CONNECTICUT AND RAISED IN OHIO HIS FATHER WAS AN ABOLITIONIST WHO HELPED SLAVES ESCAPE ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FOR YEARS JOHN BROWN MOVED AROUND PENNSYLVANIA OHIO AND NEW YORK HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AT MANY OCCUPATIONS INCLUDING TANNER SHEPHERD FARMER AND REAL ESTATE TRADER HE BEGAN ACTIVELY SUPPORTING THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY AFTER ABOLITIONIST PRINTER ELIJAH LOVEJOY WAS KILLED IN 1837 IN 1855 BROWN MOVED TO OSAWATOMIE IN THE TERRITORY OF KANSAS AND BECAME THE LEADER OF A LOCAL MILITARY UNIT ON MAY 24 1856 BROWN AND OTHERS INCLUDING FOUR OF HIS SONS ATTACKED A PROSLAVERY SETTLEMENT ON POTTAWATOMIE CREEK AND MASSACRED FIVE MEN THREE YEARS LATER BROWN SET OUT TO INCITE A SLAVE REVOLT AND FREE SLAVES IN VIRGINIA WITH ARMS AND MONEY SUPPLIED BY NEW ENGLAND ABOLITIONISTS BROWN LED A GROUP OF MEN ON AN ATTACK OF A FEDERAL ARSENAL AT HARPERS FERRY IN OCTOBER 1859 THE GROUP EASILY SEIZED THE ARSENAL BUT NO SLAVES CAME TO HELP THEM THE U.S MILITARY ARRIVED CORNERED BROWN AND KILLED TWO OF HIS SONS IN THE FIGHT BROWN WAS FORCED TO SURRENDER TO COLONEL ROBERT E LEE HE WAS LATER TRIED CONVICTED OF TREASON AND HANGED IN VIRGINIA
