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　　In October of 1859, a group of anti-slaveryextremists attacked the town of Harpers Ferry.Harpers Ferry was part of Virginia then; today it islocated in West Virginia.

　　A man named John Brown led the attack. His groupseized a gun factory and a center where the government kept military equipment. Theyplanned to use the guns and equipment to organize a rebel army of slaves.

　　Some said John Brown was a madman. But many supported his aim to end slavery.

　　John Brown Hoped to Create a Slave Rebellion

　　John Brown attacked with about twenty men. Several, including two of his sons, were killed bylocal militia. He and his remaining men withdrew to a small, brick building.

　　They expected to hold Harpers Ferry until slaves in the area rebelled and joined them. But noone came to their aid. And, the few slaves whom his men had freed refused to fight when theshooting started.

　　The president of the United States in 1859 was James Buchanan. He sent a force of Marines toHarpers Ferry, under the command of Army Colonel Robert E. Lee.

　　John Brown refused to surrender. He said he and his men had the right to go free. As soon asBrown spoke, the Marines attacked.

　　They broke open a small hole in the door of the brick building. One by one, the Marines movedthrough the hole. They fought hand-to-hand against the men inside. After a brief fight, theywon. John Brown's rebellion was crushed.

　　The Raid Made the Dispute Over Slavery Worse

　　The raid on Harpers Ferry increased the bitterness of the national dispute over slavery.Members of the Democratic Party called the raid a plot by the Republican Party. Republicanleaders denied the charge. They said the raid was the work of one man -- one madman. Still,they said, John Brown had acted for good reason: to end slavery in America.

　　Many southerners said the North was responsible for the raid. They believed all northernerswanted a slave rebellion in the South. They declared they would fight to protect their homesfrom another attack by men like Brown.

　　John Brown was sentenced to death.

　　John Brown Died for His Cause

　　Brown went to trial in Charles Town, a few kilometers from Harpers Ferry. He was charged withthree crimes: treason, plotting a slave rebellion and murder.

　　The jury found John Brown guilty of all three charges. The judge sentenced Brown to behanged.

　　John Brown was executed on December 2, 1859. His death created a wave of public emotionthroughout the country.

　　In the North, people mourned. In the South, people cheered. But their happiness at Brown'spunishment was mixed with anger at those who honored him. As the nation prepared for apresidential election year, the South renewed its promise to defend slavery -- or leave theUnion.

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