John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry
Richard Cavendish recalls the slave liberation movement in 19th-century Kansas.
A virtual civil war over slavery in Kansas in the 1850s attracted the attention of John Brown, a devout Calvinist in his mid-fifties, who regarded slavery as an abominable sin against God and a breach of the principles of the Declaration of Independence. Five of his sons had moved to Kansas and in 1855 he joined them with a supply of rifles and swords. For several years after that he led a band of anti-slavery fighters in guerrilla warfare against pro-slavery activists.
To continue reading this article you will need to purchase access to the online archive.
Buy Online Access Buy Print & Archive Subscription
If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in.
Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.
