Who was John Brown?
Q: Who was John Brown?
A: John Brown was an American abolitionist who supported using violence to end slavery in the United States.
Q: What event first brought him national attention?
A: John Brown first got national attention when he led small groups of people during the Bleeding Kansas crisis of 1856.
Q: What did Brown attempt to do at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia)?
A: At Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia), Brown attempted to start a slave liberation movement by taking control of the federal armory and arming slaves with weapons from the armory.
Q: How successful was his attack?
A: His attack was not successful; few local slaves joined his attack, and within 36 hours, Brown's men were killed or captured by local farmers, militiamen, and U.S. Marines.
Q: How was he punished for his actions?
A: He was executed by hanging for treason against the state of Virginia on December 2, 1859 - making him the first person executed for treason in the history of the United States.
Q: How is he remembered today?
A: Today, John Brown is both remembered as a heroic martyr and hated as a madman and terrorist.
