We will begin promptly at 10 a.m.

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John Brown Hero or Villain? An Online
Professional Development Seminar
WELCOME We will begin promptly at 10 a.m. The
silence you hear now is fine. If you do not hear
anything when the images on the screen change,
e-mail Caryn Koplik for assistance. (ckoplik_at_natio
nalhumanitiescenter.org)

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W. Fitzhugh Brundage National Humanities Center
Fellow 1995-96 William B. Umstead Professor of
History University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill The Southern Past A Clash of Race and
Memory (2005) A Socialist Utopia in the New
South The Ruskin Colonies in Tennessee and
Georgia, 1894-1901 (1996) Lynching in the New
South Georgia and Virginia, 1880-1939 (1993)

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John Browns raid simplifies the major issue that
roiled the United States in the first half of the
nineteenth century. If slavery is wrong, what
should be done to eliminate it? If the Union
is so precious, should we tolerate slavery to
preserve it?
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John Browns Provisional Constitution and
Ordinances for the People of the United
States  
Discussion Question How does Browns Provisional
Constitution and Ordinances for the People of the
United States alter his popular perception?
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John Browns Provisional Constitution and
Ordinances for the People of the United
States   PREAMBLE. Whereas slavery, throughout
its entire existence in the United States, is
none other than a most barbarous, unprovoked, and
unjustifiable war of one portion of its citizens
upon another portion-the only conditions of which
are perpetual imprisonment and hopeless servitude
or absolute extermination-in utter disregard and
violation of those eternal and self-evident
truths set forth in our Declaration of
Independence Therefore, we, citizens of the
United States, and the oppressed people who, by a
recent decision of the Supreme' Court, are
declared to have no rights which the white man is
bound to respect, together with all other people
degraded by the laws thereof, do, for the time
being, ordain and establish for ourselves the
following Provisional Constitution and
Ordinances, the better to protect our persons,
property, lives, and liberties, and to govern our
actions  
Discussion Questions Browns Provisional
Constitution reveals many of Browns aims and
justifications for his actions in 1859. What
does the preamble reveal? How does it compare to
the preamble of the federal constitution?
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John Browns Provisional Constitution and
Ordinances for the People of the United
States ARTICLE I Qualifications for membership
All persons of mature age, whether proscribed,
oppressed, and enslaved citizens, or of the
proscribed and oppressed races of the United
States, who shall agree to sustain and enforce
the Provisional Constitution and Ordinances of
this organization, together with all minor
children of such persons, shall be held to be
fully entitled to protection under the same.
Discussion Questions Who does Brown envision as
a citizen in his nation? Who is excluded and on
what apparent grounds?
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John Browns Provisional Constitution and
Ordinances for the People of the United
States ARTICLE XXXIII. Voluntaries All persons
who may come forward, and shall voluntarily
deliver up their slaves, and have their names
registered on the books of the organization,
shall, so long as they continue at peace, be
entitled to the fullest protection of person and
property, though not connected with this
organization, and shall be treated as friends and
not merely as persons neutral.
Discussion Question How did John Brown propose to
deal with slave holders?
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John Browns Provisional Constitution and
Ordinances for the People of the United
States ARTICLE XXXIV Neutrals The persons and
property of all non-slaveholders, who shall
remain absolutely neutral, shall be respected so
far as the circumstances can allow of it, but
they shall not be entitled to any active
protection.
Discussion Question How did he propose to deal
with non-slaveholders?
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John Browns Provisional Constitution and
Ordinances for the People of the United
States   ARTICLE XXXVI. Property
confiscated  The entire personal and real
property of all persons known to be acting either
directly or indirectly with or for the enemy, or
found in arms with them, or found willfully
holding slaves, shall be confiscated and taken
whenever and wherever it may be found in either
free or slave States.
Discussion Questions What are the implications
of this article of the provisional
constitution? On what grounds do you think Brown
justified these restrictions on the rights of
property owners (eg. slave holders)? In other
words, on what basis did Brown restrict the
sanctity of property ownership?
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John Browns Provisional Constitution and
Ordinances for the People of the United
States ARTICLE XLVI. These articles not for the
overthrow of government.  The foregoing articles
shall not be construed so as in any way to
encourage the overthrow of any State government,
or of the general government of the United
States, and look to no dissolution of the Union,
but simply to amendment and repeal. And our flag
shall be the same that our fathers fought under
in the Revolution.
Discussion Questions What was the likely intent
of this article? Why might Brown and his allies
have believed this article was needed?
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John Brown to Rev. Luther Humphrey I suppose I
am the first since the landing of Peter Brown
from the Mayflower that has either been sentenced
to imprisonment or to the gallows. But, my dear
old friend, let not that fact alone grieve you.
You cannot have forgotten how and where our
grandfather fell in 1776, and that he, too, might
have perished on the scaffold had circumstances
been but a very little different. The fact that a
man dies under the hand of an executioner (or
otherwise) has but little to do with his true
character, as I suppose. John Rogers perished at
the stake, a great and good man, as I suppose
but his doing so does not prove that any other
man who has died in the same way was good or
otherwise.
Discussion Question During his captivity before
his execution Brown used letters to supporters to
clarify his aims and to promote his cause. In
this letter Brown claims historical precedents
for his actions. On what basis did he make those
claims, and how cogent were they?
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John Brown to Mrs. George L. Stearns Charlestown
, Jefferson Co Va. 29th, Nov, 1859. Mrs George
L StearnsBoston Mass My Dear friend No letter
I have received since my imprisonment here, has
given me more satisfaction, or comfort than
yours of the 8th inst. I am quite cheerful
was never more happy. Have only time to write
you a word. May God forever reward you all
yours. My love to All who love their neighbours.
I have asked to be spared from having any mock
or hypocritical prayers made over me, when I am
publicly murdered that my only
religious attendants be poor little, dirty,
ragged, bare headed barefooted, Slave Boys
Girls Led by some old greyheaded, Slave Mother.
Farewell. Farewell. Your FriendJohn Brown
Discussion Questions In this exchange, Brown
self-consciously adopts the role of a martyr. How
do you think Americans in 1859 would interpret
his request? What significance might they have
attached to it? Why did Brown request that slaves
attend him at his execution?
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John Brown to his wife and family, Nov. 30,
1859 I am waiting the hour of my public murder
with great composure of mind and cheerfulness,
feeling the strong assurance that in no other
possible way could I be used to so much advantage
to the cause of good and of humanity, and that
nothing that either I or all my family have
sacrificed or suffered will be lost. . . . I
have now no doubt but that our seeming disaster
will ultimately result in the most glorious
success. . . I bless God I never felt stronger
confidence in the certain and near approach of a
bright morning and a glorious day than I have
felt, and do now feel, since my confinement here.
Discussion Questions What insights into Brown
does this final letter to his wife and family
reveal? Do his words confirm the worst suspicions
of white southern slaveholders or the fervent
hopes of white northern sympathizers?
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From The New Hampshire Patriot Notwithstanding
the melancholy result in the loss of so many
lives, these events will not be without advantage
to the country, if they shall serve to recall the
public mind from prejudice and excitement to a
clear and honest consideration of the dangerous
tendencies of the pernicious doctrines which,
during a few years past, have been so zealously
taught and advocated by political leaders and
partisan preachers here at the North. . . . We
could not admit violence or force as, in any
case, a necessary or proper recourse, in this
country, for the establishment of any political
principles, or for relief from political evils.
But we did not then expect so soon to see so
striking a proof and illustration of the
correctness of our views, as is now offered by
these tragical events at Harper's Ferry. They are
the natural and perfect fruit of the seed sown in
Kansas.
Discussion Question The Patriot, like virtually
all newspapers, had to make sense of Browns raid
and execution. The event was of such obvious
importance that no respecting editorial writer
could remain silent. The Patriot apparently was
not swayed by Browns rationale or behavior.
Why did the Patriot conclude that no good would
come from Browns life?
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From the Petersburg (Virginia) Express The
Harpers Ferry affair is but a small eruption on
the surface of a diseased body. Brown and his
desperados are but a sign of the cancerous
disease with which a great part of northern
society is polluted by traitorous views of men
who have been raised to honor, and surrounded by
applause, and maintained in power, by whole
communities and even whole states. . . . The
Harpers Ferry affair was but premature fruit. A
whole harvest of sterner rebellion and bloodier
collision is growing up and ripening from the see
these men have sown. . . Unless a change a
speedy and effectual change sweep over northern
society, the great conflict must come.
Discussion Question The Express similarly saw
Browns raid as a great tragedy, but for very
different reasons than had the Patriot. What
lessons did the Express draw from Browns
actions?
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From the Albany Evening Journal Upon the
question whether he had any right to go there
with such intentions, or whether, when taken, he
ought to be punished, there is no general
difference of opinion or sentiment. Though we
"would that all men" were Free, we should as
readily go to Virginia to run off their Horses
and Cattle, as their Slaves. By the Constitution
and Laws, Slavery is recognized and tolerated. It
was a compact made by our Fathers, and one that
binds their heirs. We will oppose both its
extension and its encroachments. Thus far, and no
farther, goes our sense of duty to Freedom. John
Brown seems to have counted the cost of his
enterprise and, like a brave man, is prepared to
meet his fate. Since the day that Paul spoke to
Agrippa, we have read nothing more truly sublime
than John Brown's response to the Tribunal before
which he stood to receive Sentence of Death.
Discussion Question The Evening Journal took yet
another view of Browns raid and death. How
did the Journal square Browns methods and cause?
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Origin of the Kiss Story New York Daily Tribune,
Dec. 5, 1859 On leaving jail, John Brown had on
his face an expression of calmness and serenity
characteristic of the patriot who is about to die
with a living consciousness that he is laying
down his life for the good of his fellow
creatures . . . As he stepped out of the door a
black woman, with her little child in her arms,
stood near his way. The twain were of the
despised race, for whose emancipation and
elevation to the dignity of the children of God,
he was about to lay down his life. . . . He
stopped for a moment in his course, stooped over,
and with the tenderness of one whose love is as
broad as the brotherhood of man, kissed the
child affectionately. __________________ From
John Greenleaf Whittiers, Brown of
Ossawatamie, 1859 John Brown of Ossawatamie,
they led him to die And lo! A poor slave mother
with her little child pressed nigh. Then the
bold, blue eye grew tender, and the old harsh
face grew mild As he stooped between the jeering
ranks and kissed the negros child!
John Browns Image Because Brown was such an
iconic figure (both through his own efforts and
those of others), it is useful to trace the
evolution of his image. The following images
reveal how he was initially represented in the
northern press and then how a fabled event prior
to his execution his kiss of a slave infant
became codified in the visual arts. How did
the depiction of Brown and his execution change
over time? Why do you think the myth of that
he kissed a slave infant acquired such
significance and visual power?
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A Premature Movement, 1859
John Brown. Here! Take this, and follow me. My
name is Brown. Cuffey Please God! Mr. Brown,
dat is ospossible. We aint done seedin yit at
our home.
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John Brown in the firehouse, Harpers Weekly,
November 12, 1859
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Harpers Weekly, November 12, 1859
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Discussion Question Who is depicted in this
image and why?
After Louis Ransom, John Brown/ Meeting the
slave mother and her child on the steps of the
Charlestown jail on hs way to execution/
Regarding them with a look of compassion Captain
Brown stopped, stooped, and kissed the child,
1863. Lithograph. Currier and Ives.
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Brown of Osawatomie, 1865
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After Louis Ranson, John Brownthe Martyr, 1870.
Lithograph. Currier and Ives
After Louis Ransom, John Brown . . . Lithograph,
1863. Currier and Ives
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Thomas Satterwhite Noble, John Browns Blessing,
1867. Oil and canvas
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The Last Moments of John Brown, oil on canvas,
Thomas Hovenden, 1882-84
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After Louis Ranson, John Brownthe Martyr, 1870.
Lithograph. Currier and Ives
After Louis Ransom, John Brown . . . Lithograph,
1863. Currier and Ives
The Last Moments of John Brown, oil on canvas,
Thomas Hovenden, 1882-84
Thomas Satterwhite Noble, John Browns Blessing,
1867. Oil and canvas
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Twentieth Century Interpretations
No. 21 After John Browns capture, he was put
to trial for his life in Charles Town, Virginia
(now West Virginia).
No. 22 John Brown was found Guilty of treason
and murder in the 1st degree and was hanged in
Charles Town, Virginia on December 2, 1859.
Jacob Lawrence, Nos. 21 22, The Legend of John
Brown, gouache, 1941 prints, 1977 (Series
available at http//www.arts.wa.gov/public-art/leg
end-of-john-brown/About_Brown.html)
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Twentieth Century Interpretations
From Seeing the Unspeakable The Art of Kara
Walker by Gwendolyn Dubois Shaw (2004) After
Browns execution, seemingly benign
representations of him placated concerns over the
state of race relations in war-torn and
Reconstruction America. . . . The
beatification of Brown by blacks began on the
actual day of his death, when many free African
Americans . . . celebrated Martyr Day. . .
. Browns star faded from popular consciousness
as the civil rights movement found new, African
American martyrs and saint. Walkers drawing of
Brown illustrates this cultural amnesia. . .
. Walkers Brown subverts nineteenth- and
twentieth-century visual constructions of the
convicted and condemned Brown by recasting the
viral, patriarchal white icon as an impotent,
feminized figure. . . . Brown is revealed in
Walkers work to be a faded icon, one that
persists beneath layers of allegory and myth.
Kara Walker, John Brown, gouache, 1996
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Final slide. Thank You