John Brown Flaws

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Another substantial event that further weakened the bonds of the Union is the takeover at Harpers Ferry. During the late 1850s, an “abolitionist firebrand” named John Brown, was “consumed with the idea of attacking slavery in the South itself.” Brown organized a plan to raid a pro-slavery area in Western Virginia, Harpers Ferry, and obtained weapons to pass on to the slaves in order to fight for their own freedom. However, Brown’s plan had a few flaws. One of the flaws was that Western Virginia was a rough terrain, which resulted in difficulty for agriculture. Since there was little to no agriculture, many slaves were not present. Another flaw was that Brown had no way to communicate with the fellow slaves that were nearby. Plus, if his plan …show more content…
Shortly, “the raiders found themselves surrounded,” and the federal troops were commanded to charge with bayonets fixed, momentarily captured Brown and his raiders. On December 2, 1859, John Brown was executed by being hanged for treason. Brown’s attack further weakened the Union’s bond and paranoid the South instead of the North. The attack caused the Southerners to fear the Northerners migrating southward, thinking that any individual entering the South could be the next “John Brown”. At this rate, the North feared the South and vice versa. This is when the American Civil War became inevitable. The North and the South built so much apprehension and distrust towards one another to the extent where if anything occurs, the Civil War will …show more content…
The election of 1860 consisted of candidates from the Democratic Party and other multiple candidates such as Stephen Douglas, a Northern Democrat, John C. Breckenridge, a Southern Democrat, Abraham Lincoln, a Republican candidate, and nominated from the Constitutional Union, John Bell. The Democrats believed in a weak central government, abolishment of the nation bank, and no tariffs. But the Northern Democrat believed that slavery should be abolished whereas the Southern Democrat thought otherwise. Because of the difference in belief, the Democratic Party divided into two contradictory sides. Meanwhile, the Republicans believed in a strong central government, a need for a national government and tariffs, and commitment to abolish slavery. The Constitutional Union aimed to bring the Union closer through compromises. As an outcome of the election, the Republic Abraham Lincoln won, and “struck many southerners as a blow of terrible finality.” The South began to secede from the Union led by South Carolina because it seemed to be “the only alternative left to protect southern rights.” Later, they recognized themselves as the Confederate States of America alongside with their president as Jefferson Davis. The outcome of the election of 1860 is substantial because it provoked the secession of the South along with the commencement of the American Civil War.