Trial of John Brown

Question 1

John Brown

Answer 1

Raised extremely religious and abolitionist, he was an active member of bleeding Kansas, leader of the League of the Gileadites, and the plot on Harper’s Ferry. He believed that violence was ok when resisting a violent system.

Question 2

Toussaint Louverture

Answer 2

Leader of the Haitian Revolution, Brown admires him greatly.

Question 3

Haitian Revolution

Answer 3

Led by Toussaint Louverture, the 87% enslaved nation rose up in an incredibly violent revolution. This terrified Southern slave owners.

Question 4

Gabriel Proctor

Answer 4

An enslaved Virginian, he created a plan for a violent slave rebellion. He organized 1000 slaves, but some got scared and turned him in, in addition to bridges blocking his progress. He was arrested, but was a hero to Brown and a fear to the south.

Question 5

Denmark Vesey

Answer 5

Enslaved in Haiti and then Charleston, he purchased his own freedom and became a preacher. He plan to burn Charleston but is turned in and hung. southerners blame northern abolitionists and fortify Charleston, but Brown looks up to him.

Question 6

American Colonization Society

Answer 6

Led by anti-slaver house speaker Henry Clay, the society pays for free African Americans to colonize Liberia to reduce tensions between races.

Question 7

Walker’s Appeal

Answer 7

A free northerner, David Walker wrote about how slaves should not stand for slavery. When copies were found with slaves in the south, southerner’s freaked and banned the spread of anti-slavery materials.

Question 8

William Lloyd Garrison

Answer 8

Southerner’s blame northern printer Garrison for causing unrest. He wanted immediate abolition and equal rights, insulted southerners, burned the constitution, and supported northern secession.

Question 9

Nat Turner’s Rebellion

Answer 9

An enslaved preacher who claimed god told him to lead slaves to rise up. He and his followers kill 60 people with the goal of spreading terror.

Question 10

Article 4, Section 2

Answer 10

The fugitive slave cause, it allowed anyone who ran to another state to be brought back and tried in the state they ran away from, and included harsh punishments for those who did.

Question 11

Wilmot Proviso

Answer 11

Created by Pennsylvania congressman David Wilmot, it was a provision that prevented land gained in the Mexican Cession from becoming slave states. It was heavily debated.

Question 12

Compromise of 1850

Answer 12

An agreement between southern and northern congressmen. California was admitted as a free state, and other Mexican territory is divided along latitude lines. In return, a new fugitive Slave Act was passed.

Question 13

Fugitive Slave Law of 1850

Answer 13

Made in response to the Compromise of 1850, it allowed suspected runaways to be seized without a warrant, placed the burden of proof on them, and compensated slave catchers for any success.

Question 14

Christiana Riot

Answer 14

September 1851, US marshals raid a Lancaster farm looking for runaways, but are met with armed abolitionists. After fighting, the marshals return with marines as 38 abolitionists are arrested, but found not guilty.

Question 15

League of the Gileadites

Answer 15

A group of abolitionists founded by Brown in 1851. They were committed to obstructing the fugitive slave act via force.

Question 16

Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854

Answer 16

Stephen Douglass proposed and got accepted idea of letting settlers in these areas vote about slavery, outraging the north because they liked the Missouri Compromise line.

Question 17

Jayhawkers

Answer 17

Settlers who were anti-slavery that moved to Kansas in the hopes of voting for it to become a free state.

Question 18

Bleeding Kansas

Answer 18

As more people moved there on both sides to sway the vote, they brought weapons and fights broke out frequently between sides. John Brown and his Liberty Guards were a large part of it.

Question 19

Border Ruffians

Answer 19

People brought in from Missouri by pro-slavery Kansans to disrupt the vote and steal ballots. They resulted in Kansas being entered as a slave state.

Question 20

Caning of Sumner

Answer 20

Congressman Charles Sumner gave a scathing speech calling out the border ruffians and slaver owners in Kansas. The next day Congressman Preston Brooks beat him with his cane, hitting him at least 35 times.

Question 21

John Brown’s “Liberty Guards”

Answer 21

A group of militia led by Brown in Kansas that tried to reduce the presence of pro-slavery settlers through whatever means were necessary.

Question 22

Dred Scott vs Sandford

Answer 22

in 1857, Dred Scott was taken to live in a free state for so long that he should have become free by the law, so he sued. It went to the supreme court, who ruled that he had no rights to even sue since he was a slave. This infuriated Brown and many northerners

Question 22

Pottawatomie Creek

Answer 22

Brown’s response to the caning of Sumner, he and his sons hacked 5 pro-slavery settlers to death with broadswords. He says there will be no peace until slavery ends. His camp is attacked by 300 men, and many abolitionists and one of his sons were killed

Question 23

The Secret Six

Answer 23

Six abolitionists who raised money to fund Brown’s plan.

Question 24

Brown’s Provisional Constitution

Answer 24

A document created by Brown for the country he wanted to make in the Appalachians for freed slaves. It became one of the key pieces of evidence used in his case.

Question 25

Frederick Douglass

Answer 25

A prominent abolitionist and freed slave, he met with Brown multiple times, thought he cared more about the cause that Douglass, but also thought his plan would not work and there was a peaceful way to end slavery.

Question 26

John Brown’s Raid

Answer 26

John Brown and 21 men raided Harper’s Ferry, captured the armory, and took hostages, but delayed their retreat and were arrested by marines.

Question 27

Colonel Lewis Washington

Answer 27

Mayor of Harper’s Ferry and nephew of George Washington, he was captured from his bed by Brown’s men, who took him as a hostage and freed his slaves. He later testified about the event, and said Brown treated him well.

Question 28

Dangerfield Newby

Answer 28

A member of Brown’s army he had gained freedom but was trying to free his wife. He is killed during the raid running back to the armory.

Question 29

Governor Henry Wise

Answer 29

Governor of Virginia, he insisted on a state trial despite federal crimes, and also wanted a fast trial to ensure Brown had no chance. He also later declared Brown sober.

Question 30

Virginia’s Treason Statute

Answer 30

Claims treason had to be committed against the state of Virginia, which does not make sense since Brown was not a Virginian citizen.

Question 31

Judge Richard Parker

Answer 31

Judge Richard Parker is a slaveholder with 10 slaves. He allowed a fast trial and sentenced Brown to death.

Question 32

Samuel Chilton

Answer 32

One of Brown’s attorneys sent by northern abolitionists to help him. He arrived late, argued that Brown tried to be nonviolent if possible, and also pled insanity, but it didn’t work.

Question 33

Barclay Coppoc

Answer 33

A member of Brown’s army, he escaped and was not tried. The south asks Iowa to turn him over, as is their right, but he is allowed to flee to Canada. he later enlists in the Union, but dies in a bridge explosion caused by southerners.

Question 34

Election of 1860

Answer 34

4 candidates are in the race, and it is extremely close. Lincoln wins without the majority vote, and the south is outraged.

Question 35

South Carolina Ordinance of Secession

Answer 35

After the election of 1860, South Carolina drafted an ordinance of secession, soon followed by other southern states. It is clear they seceded over the issue of slavery.

Question 36

John Brown’s Body

Answer 36

Brown was hanged, and became a martyr to the north. Statues are put up in his name and the nation grows more divided that ever over his trial and hanging.