politics summary

A Plea for Captain John Brown
John Brown was an official who gathered 21 men and raided Harper's Ferry which was an armory to arm slaves in the fight against slavery. He and his men were later captured and placed in jail. John Brown was later hung for treason. Although many thought the hanging was justified, Henry David Thoreau wrote this article as a defense for John Brown. Thoreau basically states that John Brown was a hero for stepping out against the government. In addition, he calls him a martyr because he died for his cause. John Brown was willing to die for his fellow men and for his cause, which was something that caught Thoreau's eye as he calls him brave and a hero. Thoreau greatly commends John Brown because he actually lived his life out to the fullest and made a difference with his life.