Overview
One of the main jobs of historians is to interpret the past by reviewing primary documents, scholarly secondary sources, and then creating an analysis of this research. After listening to the appropriate course lectures and reviewing the assigned reading materials below, evaluate John Brown and his contribution to U.S. history. Consider these questions: What motivated John Brown? Was he a hero or a terrorist? Does his cause determine the answer to the previous question? And given what we know of the centrality of slavery in causing the Civil War, how significant was John Brown's Harpers Ferry Raid in triggering the war? Would Lincoln's election likely have led to war, even if Brown had never made his raid? Why or why not?
For full credit, your posts must be substantive, constructive, and respectful. Do not simply sum up the lectures and readings or repeat points made there,
Make use of the evidence to engage one another in enriching discussions. I am looking for you to create your own interpretations and to discuss original insights, but remember that your analysis must be supported by the provided source material (e.g., lectures, readings). Opinions have no value if they lack this support. Adhere to this quote from President John Adams: "Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” Include parenthetical references to the lectures and provided sources in both your original post and your response posts.