What was the goal of John Brown's raid at Harpers Ferry?

John Brown's raid at Harpers Ferry aimed to incite a national slave revolt, which reflects his belief that an armed uprising was necessary to end the institution of slavery in the United States. Brown sought to seize the federal armory located at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, to acquire weapons and ammunition that he believed would be crucial for enslaved people to rise against their oppressors. His ultimate goal was to create a stronghold for freed slaves and encourage a widespread rebellion against slaveholders across the South.

This action was rooted in Brown's deep conviction that moral and social change required direct confrontation and armed resistance. By targeting the armory, he hoped that a successful raid would embolden enslaved individuals and inspire a broader insurrection, significantly impacting the national dialogue surrounding slavery and increasing tensions leading up to the Civil War.