John Brown

On October 16, 1859, John Brown, an ardent abolitionist, led a group of 21 men, including both Black and white supporters, in an attempt to seize the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia). His goal was to incite a large-scale slave rebellion by arming enslaved people with weapons from the arsenal. Although the group initially succeeded in taking the armory, local militia and federal troops, under the command of Colonel Robert E. Lee, quickly suppressed the rebellion. Brown and several of his men were captured, while others were killed.Brown was later tried for treason, murder, and inciting an insurrection. His trial garnered national attention, and he was found guilty and hanged on December 2, 1859. While the raid itself was a failure in achieving its immediate goal, it deepened the divisions between the North and South over the issue of slavery, significantly intensifying tensions that would lead to the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861.Learn more through the National Park Servicehttps://www.nps.gov/hafe/index.htmThe Joy Trip Project celebrates the enduring legacy of Black American History. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of Black American historical figures, events and cultural contributions.#unhiddenblackhistory #NationalParkService #yourparkstory #NationalGeographic #unhiddenminuteBecome a paid subscriber to the Unhidden Minute Podcast for one year and receive a copy of The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors 10th Anniversary Edition by James Edward Mills. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesedwardmills.substack.com/subscribe