John Brown's Pike

The video explores John Brown's role in the abolitionist movement during the mid-19th century. Brown, influenced by witnessing the mistreatment of enslaved people, vowed to end slavery. He believed in arming enslaved people with weapons, leading to his commissioning of pikes for a raid on the Federal Armory. The raid failed, resulting in Brown's execution for treason. However, the pikes became symbolic, with pro-slavery leaders using them as reminders of the threat to their way of life. Today, Brown's pikes are historical artifacts, sparking debate over his legacy as a terrorist or martyr.

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