Radical abolitionist John Brown did seize the Federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry in 1859. The purpose was to supply arms to a slave revolt that John Brown and his followers attempted to create. The "rebellion" was ended in a few days as no slaves were enticed to join such a revolution, and Federal forces under Colonel Robert E. Lee captured Brown and his 20 or so followers. Brown was hung in Virginia soon after for treason.
The site of the federal arsenal where a militant abolitionist, John Brown, led the famous raid in 1859 is Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Brown, along with a group of followers, hoped to incite a slave rebellion by seizing weapons from the arsenal. The raid was ultimately unsuccessful, and Brown was captured, tried, and executed.
AnswerJohn Brown.
The raid on the arsenal in Harpers Ferry, VA was anti-slavery. It was led by John Brown, the radical abolitionist October 16, 1859.
John Brown's raid on the arsenal at Harpers Ferry.
The aborted attempt to use violence to begin a slave revolt in the South actually set the abolitionist movement back, instead of aiding the fight to end slavery. Most Americans were repulsed at the tactic of John Brown to capture a Federal arsenal, and try to incite a revolution. Most Americans were against this sort of bloody tactic.
Harpers Ferry
John Brown
The arsenal provided additional ammunition for raids in Kansas.
Harpers Ferry, Virginia.
Harpers Ferry
John Brown
Brown's goal was to obtain weapons from the arsenal in order to arm slaves and cause a slave uprising in Virginia
Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia) was a small town, where a Federal Arsenal was located. Brown became convinced that if he started an uprising among slaves by providing weapons and strategy, the revolt would spread across the entire south. Thus, by raiding the Federal Arsenal at Harpers Ferry, he, his sons, and men could seize weapons and provide them to slaves, during what he envisioned as a revolt.
John Brown
John Brown
He raided Harper's Ferry for weaponry from the Federal arsenal there, intending to start a major slave uprising.
to seize a federal arsenal and start a widespread slave uprising