What was the purpose of John Brown’s raid at Harper’s Ferry?
A. to steal weapons to use in an uprising against slavery
B. to scare the Union into allowing secession
C. to protest the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act
D. to free enslaved people who were forced to work there
The purpose of John Brown's raid at Harper's Ferry was to answer A, to steal weapons to use in an uprising against slavery. To arrive at this answer, we can analyze the historical context and events leading up to the raid.
John Brown was a fervent abolitionist who strongly believed in the use of force to bring an end to slavery in the United States. He saw armed resistance as a necessary means to achieve this goal. Brown believed that by seizing the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry in Virginia, he could arm enslaved people and instigate a widespread uprising against slavery.
Harper's Ferry was chosen as the target for the raid because of its strategic location. The town was the site of a United States Armory and Arsenal, which held a significant cache of weapons. Brown hoped that by capturing these weapons, he would be able to supply enslaved people with the necessary means to rebel against their oppressors.
While it is true that Brown's raid was ultimately unsuccessful and he was captured and executed, it is widely regarded as a pivotal event leading up to the American Civil War. The raid at Harper's Ferry showcased the growing tension between abolitionists and defenders of slavery, further polarizing the nation and exacerbating the already volatile state of affairs.