John Brown

John Brown (born the May 9th 1800 with Torrington in the State of the Connecticut with the the United States and hung the December 2nd 1859 with Charlestown in Virginia) is one of the first free trade white of the history of the United States.

Genesis of an engagement

Wire of a calvinist, to the twelve years age it is brought to traverse the Michigan, where it will remain at a man who had a slave. He attends violences which one subjects the black slave; these scenes found its engagement, as much as the convictions of his/her father.

He was in addition, a time, freemason, association which he leaves then. In 1837, after the assassination of one of his/her friends, director of a free trade newspaper, Brown gives itself for mission of éradiquer slavery.

Free trade activism

In 1847, it meets Frederick Douglass, former black slave become speaker and statesman (it aspired to the vice-presidency of the United States). It settles in 1849 in a black community of the State of New York.

Its action becomes more violent starting from 1855: helped five of its sons, it leaves in the Kansas to attack directly the slave colonists. It is helped for that, financially, by many abolitionists. It meets the philosopher Henry David Thoreau who dedicates to him, thereafter, an admiration without terminals and which takes an active share against the slave system (many conferences and assistance with fugitive).

A few years later, in 1859, John Brown projects to cause a rising of slaves: with the assistance of some partisans, it seizes a federal arsenal in Virginia to launch the insurrection (October 16th 1859). The revolt turns to the disaster: no slave joined it and Brown is seriously wounded several balls, two of her sons are killed. It is stopped and, after a parody of lawsuit, is condemned and hung on December 2nd, 1859. It will become a symbol of the fight for the abolition of slavery.

Reactions

Victor Hugo, since his exile with Guernesey, will try to obtain its grace: he will address an open letter which will appear in the press European and American ( cf Actes and words - During the exile 1859 ). This text, which announces like a premonition the civil war, will be worth with the poet many criticisms in the United States.

Henry David Thoreau wrote a length Plaidoyer for John Brown and pronounced a funeral praise, at the time of an office with Concord, on December 2nd 1859, date of its execution.

The future president Abraham Lincoln, in a tended context (we are at the edge of the American Civil War), though abolitionist like Brown, will not oppose the execution and will take even its distances with the action of this last, of which he will condemn in particular violence.

The symbol

The death sentence of John Brown provides to the abolitionist cause a Martyr to which to join. Henceforth, this one will become the reference of its combat, and will inspire a song which will become the anthem of the cause among all abolitionists of the Union:

John Brown' S body dregs a-mold' serious boxing ring in the

drunk His goes marching one

(the body of John Brown to lie in the tomb.

Its heart, it, walk among us.)

External bonds

Museum John Brown.
John Brown told by Russell Banks

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