Part 42 (1/2)

[Sidenote: John Brown's Raid, 1859. _Higginson_, 286-289; _Source-Book_, 294-296.]

[Sidenote: He seizes Harper's Ferry.]

[Sidenote: His execution, 1859.]

360. John Brown's Raid, 1859.--While in Kansas John Brown had conceived a bold plan. It was to seize a strong place in the mountains of the South, and there protect any slaves who should run away from their masters. In this way he expected to break slavery in pieces within two years. With only nineteen men he seized Harper's Ferry, in Virginia, and secured the United States a.r.s.enal at that place. But he and most of his men were immediately captured. He was executed by the Virginian authorities as a traitor and murderer. The Republican leaders denounced his act as ”the gravest of crimes.” But the Southern leaders were convinced that now the time had come to secede from the Union and to establish a Southern Confederacy.

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

CHAPTER 31

-- 323.--_a_. Why were the people of South Carolina so opposed to any limitation of slavery? How did they show their opposition?

_b_. Had slavery disappeared in the North because people thought that it was wrong?

---- 324, 325.--_a_. What suggestions were made by some in the North for the ending of slavery? What do you think of these suggestions?

_b_. For what did Garrison contend, and how did he make his views known?

Why were these views opposed in the North?

-- 326.--_a_. Why were the Southerners so alarmed by Nat Turner's Rebellion?

_b_. What power had Congress over the mails? How would you have voted on this question?

---- 327, 328.--_a_. Why is the right of pet.i.tion so important? How is this right secured to citizens of the United States?

_b_. Why should these pet.i.tions be considered as insulting to slaveholders?

_c_. Why were the Southerners so afraid of any discussion of slavery?

CHAPTER 32

---- 329, 330.--_a_. Show by the map the extent of the Mexican Republic.

_b_. Why did Texas wish to join the United States? What att.i.tude had Mexico taken on slavery?

---- 331, 332.--_a_. Explain carefully how the Texas question influenced the election of 1844.

_b_. What was the Liberty party? How did its formation make the election of Polk possible?

_c_. What is a ”joint resolution”?

-- 333.--How did the Mexicans regard the admission of Texas? What dispute with Mexico arose? Did Mexico begin the war?

---- 334, 335.--_a_. What was the plan of Taylor's campaign? Of Scott's campaign?

_b_. Mention the leading battles of Taylor's campaign. Of Scott's campaign.