Mock Trial #1 Anti-Slavery

 John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry from Oct. 16 to 18, 1859, was one of the biggest attempts to start a slave revolt in Southern states by taking control of various United States arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Many believe this to be the starting point of the Civil War, since Brown's raid was one of the heaviest news-covered abolitionist events, opening the door to future revolts and creating a domino effect of slave revolts in the South. Brown, along with his small  22 man army defeated a group of U.S. Marines that were guarding a federal armory in Virginia. Brown laid out a plan to take over the armory and seize all the weapons and ammunition, he would then arm slaves and head south near the Appalachian Mountains where he would build a haven for any runaway slaves. His plan, however, was flawed, he had no escape plan in case the mission didn't go as smoothly as planned.

“John Brown's Raid.” Ushistory.org, Independence Hall Association, https://www.ushistory.org/us/32c.asp.

 For three days, Brown and his men put up a fight, however, they would soon be heavily outnumbered and started to run low on supplies. Ten of the raiders died during the process, seven were later tried and executed, and five escaped. Robert E. Lee and his men soon captured and executed Brown and his men. Stonewall Jackson was in charge of looking over Brown during the time leading up to his trial. Being faced with charges of murder, conspiring with enslaved people, and treason, it became very clear the fate that awaited Brown. Brown's trial began on October 27 and only lasted five days. It only took the jurors 45 minutes to reach a verdict, Brown would be guilty of all charges. On November 2, Brown was sentenced to hang, and on Dec. 2, Brown would then be hung in the gallows. Brown's wife, Mary would then take his body back home to North Elba, New York, where he would be buried and put to rest. John Wilkes booth was part of the Richmond Grays, which was the militia unit that captured John Brown, and was in attendance at Brown's execution. Just six years later, would Booth assassinate Lincoln.

“John Brown's Raid (U.S. National Park Service).” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, https://www.nps.gov/articles/john-browns-raid.htm.

Brown's raid ignited a spark in the United States, many abolitionists felt inspired by his work. The story of John Brown's raid flooded newspapers, being the first national crisis to be published using the new electrical telegraph. Brown's trial was what turned him into a hero, Virginia v. John Brown. In October of 1859, in the city of Charlestown, Virginia, John Brown was prosecuted very quickly for treason against the Commonwealth of Virginia, murder, and inciting a slave insurrection. Brown inspired many other abolitionists to take action and fight against slavery. Brown's choice of violence to get his beliefs across paved a road for future abolitionist movements. It gave slaves hope that not every white person hated them. It showed others that when you truly feel passionate about a situation, you should be willing to risk everything for the morals and justice of other humans.