The Raid on Harpers Ferry Begins
On the night of October 16, 1859, John Brown and a small group of armed followers crossed a bridge into Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Their target was a federal armory, a government facility where weapons were made and stored. Brown hoped that capturing those weapons would help him start an uprising against slavery. Instead, within two days, his raid had failed—but its effects reached far beyond the town.
Harpers Ferry stood where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet. It was then part of Virginia; today it is in West Virginia. The town was an important transportation and manufacturing center, with a railroad, a canal, and the federal armory. Its location and supply of weapons made it useful to Brown’s plan.
A country divided over slavery
In 1859, the United States was deeply divided over slavery. Millions of Black people were enslaved, mostly in Southern states. They were forced to work without pay and could be sold away from their families. Enslaved people resisted in many ways, including escaping and helping others seek freedom.
Abolitionists wanted to end slavery. Some worked through speeches, newspapers, political campaigns, and assistance to freedom seekers. Brown, a white abolitionist, believed slavery was a great injustice and became convinced that violence was necessary to destroy it.
- uprising:
- An act of resistance or rebellion by a group of people.
- injustice:
- Treatment that is unfair or violates people’s rights.
- territory:
- An area of land governed by a country but not yet a state.
- hostages:
- People held captive to force others to act or cooperate.
- militia:
- A group of citizens organized to fight, usually in an emergency.
- surrender:
- To stop fighting and give oneself up to an opponent.
- treason:
- Betrayal of one’s government, such as making war against it.
- intensified:
- Made stronger or more severe.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Why did Harpers Ferry seem useful to Brown’s plan?
- 2How did Brown’s approach to ending slavery differ from the approaches of some other abolitionists?
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About this explanatory article passage for Middle School
“The Raid on Harpers Ferry Begins” is a explanatory article reading passage about John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry, written for Middle School. It takes about 6 minutes to read (878 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.