John Brown, born on this day in 1800, was a militant abolitionist who advocated for and practiced armed insurrection to overthrow the system of slavery in the U.S. He became the first American executed for treason after raiding Harpers Ferry.

Brown first gained national attention when he led small groups of volunteers during the Bleeding Kansas crisis of 1856. He was dissatisfied with the pacifism of the organized abolitionist movement, stating “These men are all talk. What we need is action - action!”

In October 1859, Brown led a raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (modern day West Virginia), intending to start a liberation movement that would spread south through the mountainous regions of Virginia and North Carolina.

Although Brown’s group successfully seized the armory at first, his raid was defeated by a combination of volunteer militia and state forces led by Robert E. Lee, who later commanded the Confederate States Army. Seven people were killed, two of whom were Brown’s sons Oliver and Watson, and at least ten more were injured.

Brown had intended to arm enslaved people with weapons from the armory, but only a small number of locals were willing to join him, possibly due to an unfamiliarity with firearms. Within 36 hours, those of Brown’s men who had not fled were killed or captured by local farmers, militiamen, or U.S. Marines.

Brown was hastily tried for treason against the Commonwealth of Virginia, the murder of five men, and inciting a slave insurrection. He was found guilty on all counts and was hanged, becoming the first person executed for treason in the history of the United States.

“I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land can never be purged away but with blood. I had, as I now think, vainly flattered myself that without very much bloodshed, it might be done.”

  • John Brown

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  • GalaxyBrain [they/them]@hexbear.netEnglish
    9·
    15 days ago

    Had a smoke break at the same time as a dude im pals with who works at the brewery next door and we communism flirted. I forget the context but we were he joked 'this is why we need communism, equitable distribution of (whatever inane thing we were talking abou, it was something very silly) and I replied ‘you’re preaching to the Red Army Choir.’. There was then a pause as we both kinda realized we both meant it and were testing the waters. So yeah! Found out one of my pals working in the same building is a comrade. I figured he would have guessed when I set up an intra building workers mutual aide network of stealing shit and trading in the hallway. I sneak em food out the back door, they give us free beer out the back door and the bosses dont need to know. Anyway, always nice to know someone you’re friendly with is on the ball, especially as a co-conspirator against the bosses. It’s one thing to be in it for the free food or booze, but quite another to be doing the trades for ideological reasons, I wouldn’t be trading a hilarious amount of pizza for staff 12 packs to split, id be running the scam privately at a lower risk, I am trying to encourage subversion and buy loyalty aside from cutting your work pals in just being the nice thing to do. The best way to promote your ideals is to deliver people the goods,education and stuff is good, but at the end of the day, I dont need everyone on my side to understand my cause, they just need to be loyal to it. Getting my co-workers free booze or letting them out early on a rough day and taking it on the chin solo etc while dropping little tidbits of theory here and there has gotten me way further than trying to give a full education would. As long as they know theyre being ripped off and the communist they work with is softening the blow for them at personal risk, you’re good. In this case it isnt a real risk cause even if I got found out at worst id get chewed out, im way to important to the operation to mess with too much.