American Experience; Interview with historian James Brewer Stewart, 4 of 5 : John Brown's Holy War
Description:
Martyr, madman, murderer, hero: John Brown remains one of history's most controversial and misunderstood figures. In the 1850s, he and his ragtag guerrilla group embarked on a righteous crusade against slavery that was based on religious faith -- yet carried out with shocking violence. His execution at Harpers Ferry sparked a chain of events that led to the Civil War. Stewart talks about Kansas - made world unpredictable, Kansas - instability made capitalists fund freedom fighters, Kansas - powerful families in Boston funding free staters, Kansas - Boston $ to freedom fighters, Kansas - violence there not new, Kansas - slave holders needed new territory, growing economy, Boston - felt at home, tradition of American Revolution, Boston - 2nd Revolution, people saw his revolutionary zeal, Boston - Revolution corrupted, John Brown remembered truths, Personality - charisma, feeds needs, patriarch, Boston - gave supporters chance to believe in themselves, Nonviolence - nonviolent people accept violence, big change