Document Analysis of John Brown’s Address to the Virginia Court

fanny browneds address to the Virginia move Origin The address given by notifyful brown to the Virginia court was his concluding words before execution on charges of treason. The charges were given beca wont of a break that he directed with the intent to take national weapons which is an act of treason. On October 16th-18th, 1859, the radical abolitionist John browned led a group of white and black men, including ii of his sons, on Harpers Ferry, Virginia. chocolate-browns endeavor was to seize the federal arsenal, arm the local slaves, and fight a way into the normality as described in this primeval source in court.This raid was non surprising because of his abolitionist background and dementia as described by the Robert E. lee nerve who led the Union Army that hold in the revolt. The group held up in a fire department and was attacked by lee sides soldiers. The failed attempt resulted in Browns capture, essay, and execution on celestial latitude 2nd. This episo de of slave resistance was the uttermost major rebellion contributing to the backdown of the South and, eventually, the Civil War. Purpose John Brown had a a a couple of(prenominal) purpose for delivering this address.Obviously, it was given in answer to charges accumulated from the raid, and the address also makes some(prenominal)(prenominal) points explaining his defense. Brown stated that he did not intend to fire a individual(a) gun but wanted hardly to take slaves from plantations and lead them to northern states or Canada. Brown also stated that he did not induce the others involved in the raid to join him which littleened his abomination in his mind. To the charges he addressed, I neer did intend murder, or treason, or the oddment of property, or to excite or ignite slaves to rebellion, or to make insurrection.Though he denied the charges, nonpareil can infer that Brown authentically did want a slave insurrection to occur in the South out-of-pocket to his stro ng abolitionist morals and beliefs. If the raid were to be successful, Brown would not finish up with those slaves, but rather continue his squeeze manumission of the South. Browns impression of the trial was matchless of satisfaction, but he argued that it is raw that I should suffer such a penalty of death. He do this disceptation because his intent was not to start this originate but, instead, to be an act of defiance that he knew would indirectly cause a the great unwashed insurrection in the South.Value John Browns address is not a historical landmark and was a less significant historical document that had tokenish aftermath however, it provides a specific lawsuit of responses in court giving taste into how acts of slave resistance are dealt with legally. Brown gives this document a unique cereal because of his eloquence in court compared with his atrociousness in the raid. Overall, he is given the emplacement of a martyr with his words I submit to death so let i t be done Brown reveals a very(prenominal) different side of his personality in which he is a dignified martyr.He predicts that thraldom will never end peacefully in the country whose rights are forgotten by wicked, cruel, and unjust enactments. Historians can use this document today to show commonwealth strong in their beliefs who act upon them, and although almost failed in their efforts, their cause was strengthened. Limitations The address made by John Brown contains several limitations that affect its credit as a historical source. A significant alteration factor is that there is only one opinion to explain the raid. Brown had a biased opinion mainly because of his childishness having been greatly influenced with abolitionist morals and beliefs.One would work out that Browns address would be biased in spite of his many accusations, but he speaks as if he had nothing to lose. The aiding and abetting criminals in the raid would not have delivered a speech as dignified an d passionate as Browns but would obviously be similar in their renditions of the event. To fully image Browns raid, historians would need to visit Robert E. Lees notes. After viewing both sides of the story, a historian can either choose a side or make an inference that incorporates both.