What seemed to be a random act of terrorism shook the country into seeing the true evil behind what they had been doing. The ends justified the means (Blight Lecture 9) because his act of rebellion against the federal government in Harpers Ferry led to the start of the Civil War, which ended with the freedom of slaves. John Brown showed the Northerners that they had to end slavery throughout the country to make for a better future. “The impact of Harpers Ferry quite literally transformed the nation” (Bordewich 62) The people of America were either supportive of Brown’s actions, believing that he was light which broke the darkness of slavery; or in disagreement with it, dreading slave insurrection (Bordewich 69). This clash of ideas split a once united country in two. Proceeding the split that was finalized by Harpers Ferry came a new division of the political parties, called the Democrats. They allowed Abraham Lincoln to win the presidential election of 1860 by making it a three party election and swaying the votes towards him. Once Lincoln was inaugurated, 11 states seceded from the Union, causing the split of the nation and the beginning of the Civil War. The actions of one man made such an impact on America that it led to the division of the Confederacy and the Union, and, because of the Civil War, instituted the restoration of a truly United
What seemed to be a random act of terrorism shook the country into seeing the true evil behind what they had been doing. The ends justified the means (Blight Lecture 9) because his act of rebellion against the federal government in Harpers Ferry led to the start of the Civil War, which ended with the freedom of slaves. John Brown showed the Northerners that they had to end slavery throughout the country to make for a better future. “The impact of Harpers Ferry quite literally transformed the nation” (Bordewich 62) The people of America were either supportive of Brown’s actions, believing that he was light which broke the darkness of slavery; or in disagreement with it, dreading slave insurrection (Bordewich 69). This clash of ideas split a once united country in two. Proceeding the split that was finalized by Harpers Ferry came a new division of the political parties, called the Democrats. They allowed Abraham Lincoln to win the presidential election of 1860 by making it a three party election and swaying the votes towards him. Once Lincoln was inaugurated, 11 states seceded from the Union, causing the split of the nation and the beginning of the Civil War. The actions of one man made such an impact on America that it led to the division of the Confederacy and the Union, and, because of the Civil War, instituted the restoration of a truly United