A Plea for Captain John Brown facts for kids

"A Plea for Captain John Brown" is an essay written by Henry David Thoreau. It is based on a speech Thoreau first gave in Concord, Massachusetts, on October 30, 1859. This was two weeks after John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry. Thoreau repeated the speech several times before Brown was executed on December 2, 1859. The essay was later published in a collection called Echoes of Harper's Ferry in 1860.

Understanding John Brown's Actions

John Brown was a strong abolitionist. This means he was against slavery. He and 21 other men took over the Federal armory at Harper's Ferry. This armory held about 100,000 rifles and muskets. Brown hoped to give these weapons to enslaved people. He wanted them to start a rebellion against slavery in the Southern states.

After 36 hours, U.S. forces led by Robert E. Lee stopped the revolt. Brown was then put in jail. The raid led to thirteen deaths. Twelve of these were Brown's men, and one was a U.S. Marine. Brown was found guilty of serious charges related to his actions. He was executed on December 2, 1859. Many people at the time saw the raid as a failure. However, Brown's raid and his execution helped lead to the American Civil War.

Thoreau's Support for John Brown

Thoreau's essay strongly supported John Brown and his fight against slavery. At the time, many newspapers and people thought Brown was foolish or crazy. But Thoreau disagreed completely. He saw Brown as a unique and brave man. Thoreau believed Brown's dedication to his cause was unmatched.

Thoreau argued that Brown's commitment to justice was very strong. He felt Brown was following the true spirit of the U.S. Constitution. This commitment made Brown fight against unfair laws supported by the government. Even though Brown was not personally enslaved, he felt deeply affected by the injustice of slavery.

Thoreau greatly admired Brown. He called him a highly moral and kind man. Brown was independent and spoke his mind directly. Thoreau believed Brown's actions made those who supported slavery feel afraid. This fear came from their own lack of a strong moral purpose.

Thoreau even compared Brown's execution to the crucifixion of Christ. He said that he considered Brown "dead" even before his actual execution. Thoreau compared the American government to Pontius Pilate, who allowed Christ's crucifixion.

Thoreau's Criticism of Others

Thoreau was upset with many Americans. These people had spoken badly about John Brown. Thoreau said these people could not understand Brown. He felt they had fixed ideas and "dead" lives. He believed they were not truly living. He thought only a few people had ever truly lived.

Thoreau also criticized Christians of his time. He said they would pray but then go to sleep. They knew about injustice but did nothing to change it. Similarly, Thoreau said that those who believed Brown wasted his life were themselves foolish. Brown gave his life for justice, not for money or fame. Thoreau believed Brown was completely sane, perhaps more so than anyone else.

Some people argued that Brown's group was too small to make a difference. Thoreau replied, "when were the good and the brave ever in a majority?" He also pointed out something interesting. The Liberator, a newspaper that was against slavery, called Brown's actions misguided. Thoreau found this ironic.

On-line sources

• A Plea for Captain John Brown– Wikisource
• A complete collection of Thoreau's essays, including A Plea for Captain John at Standard Ebooks
• A Plea for Captain John Brown– Project Gutenberg