Joshua Casas Hist 201 Chriistopher Bates Exam 2

John Brown Raid on Harpers Ferry

This Painting of John Brown raiding Harpers Ferry was done in 1940 about 80 years after John Brown died. John Brown an abolitionist believed slavery was an awful thing and wanted to get rid of it at an extreme level. Him and 20 others made of white and black abolitionist, slaves, free slaves began a raid of harpers ferry and planned to free slaves in hope they joined the revolution and help fight against the slave owners, he then went to a government armory to get weapons, but due to slaves not knowing about this and many not joining it was not a success. He barricaded himself in the boiler room with the men he had left. Even though this ended in a failure and the death of him and his men, this spurred the fear that many slave owners had of abolitionist and slave rebellions, also had many northerners agree with browns actions. Many things can be seen about what 19th century ideas were going in this painting. First is theres no doubt that many believed john brown of being all powerful because of his size in the painting, hes double the size of all the men in the painting. Hes carrying a book with the symbols of alpha and omega. He has a on his waist a sword and pistols which belonged to George Washington which he believed were talismans.

Joshua Casas Hist 201 Chriistopher Bates Exam 2

The painting also depicts how the slave owners side looks way different then the northern side. In the painting theres a lot of fire and smoke on the top and bottom right side while the left side is clear and blue looks pleasant. Which makes one think the slave owner side is more in pieces and in hell. The painting also illustrates the American flag on john browns side implying that its the nation versus the confederate battle flag on the right side of the painting. That America is for john brown. Lastly the painting conveys with detail that slave owners were evil and the opposite of the north. In the Painting on the right side you can militia pointing guns at the faces of slaves or African Americans and the African Americans afraid. The painting also shows two larger themes. First is no matter what a person does theres going to be some that believe they did right. John Brown didnt accomplish his goal of gathering black k slaves and causing a revolution to destroy slavery, but after he died the north and abolitionist saw him as a martyr, a hero. Just like Nathan Bedford Forrest. He didnt do anything really major like Robert E Lee but he was the grand dragon of the KKK, but in the south hes considered one of the most famous lieutenants from the civil war. Lastly the 2nd theme I see is no matter what an American battle or war for peoples rights always involve militia. With the help of the local militia at Harpers Ferry they trapped john brown and his men in the boiler room in the armory. Just like in the American Revolution when a big majority of the American army were militia and helped fight the war.