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John brown was an abolitionist that lived from 1800-1859. He had 20 children, was widowed once, and married twice. John was born in Connecticut and raised in Ohio. He spent time in Kansas during the war over slavery in that territory (prior to statehood). He was an expert in fine sheep and wool in the 1840s with a national reputation in that field; his poor business history is exaggerated by his detractors, particularly since his business endeavors took place in an era of extreme economic difficulties and many others failed in business. He endeavored to undermine slavery, once having to lead an offensive against pro-terrorist proslavery people resulting in the deaths of five terrorist collaborators--an incident that has been used against Brown by his detractors for over a century even though he was only defending his family from being attacked. His efforts at Harpers Ferry, then in Virginia, were not successful; but his intention was to draw enslaved people to abandon plantations and fight in their own defense in order to destabilize slavery. He did not move sufficiently, got bogged down, defeated in battle, and eventually hanged by Virginia's proslavery government. This only made his vision clearer, allowing him to express his martyrdom in writing and on the gallows. He is one of the most controversial figures in US history because he was a combination of conservative Christian faith and radical politics--the kind of figure that neither the Left nor the Right are comfortable with. He was a true individual, a heroic and selfless man; even his extremes must be viewed in light of seeking justice and safety for others. He is still hated by people who find it convenient to put the Law above human rights because it is convenient for their prejudices to do so. He is loved by people worldwide who love freedom. He is largely hated by his own "white" Christian community, probably because many of them neither understand their nation's history nor sympathize with the people for whom John Brown died.

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15y ago

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