Was john brown leader of the pro slavery movement?

Answer 1

John Brown was not in favor of slavery. Brown was might be called a radical anti slavery abolitionist. He actually created a conspiracy to begin a slave rebellion in the South. The famous Afro American scholar, Frederick Douglas even visited Brown to hear about Brown's idea to begin a slave revolt. Douglas tried to convince Brown not to carry out his plan and instead create a haven for runaway slaves.

The two men could not agree and Douglas never took part in any violent type of action.

Brown did. He was funded by radical anti slavery groups in the North and under an assumed name bought a farm to have that become his headquarters. Brown had plotted a slave revolution for years. He and approximately 20 or so fellow believers took over the Federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry. His fellows then went about the countryside trying to recruit slaves to his revolution. That was a failure.

Before too long the US Army retook the arsenal and captured Brown who was charged with treason, a questionable charge by the Governor of Virginia, but ether way Brown was doomed as several Virginians were killed and capturing a government arsenal was treason. He was executed in 1859.