The Charges Against John Brown
According to the grand jury indictment, John Brown has been charged with treason against the government of Virginia, conspiracy to induce slaves "to rebel and make insurrection against their masters and owners," and premeditated murder. He can be found guilty of any or all of these charges or not guilty of any or all charges.
Why is John Brown being put on trial?
As the American North and South are starting to divide based on beliefs, Brown and his sons led several attacks on pro-slavery residents in Kansas. Justifying his actions as the will of God, Brown soon became a hero in the eyes of Northern extremists and was quick to capitalize on his growing reputation.
By early 1858, he had succeeded in enlisting a small “army” of rebels whose mission was to encourage slaves to revolt.
On the night of October 16, 1859, Mr. Brown and seventeen accomplices are accused of seizing the United States arsenal at Harper’s Ferry. Their goal was to capture supplies and use them to arm a slave rebellion. Brown was captured during this raid. They are charged with conspiring to start a slave rebellion, treason against the United States, and the murder of four citizens.
What is at stake?
These charges against John Brown are quite serious. If he is convicted by a juror of your peers, he faces many years in prison, life in prison or execution by hanging.
How will you serve justice?
In the case of John Brown vs. the people of the United States (2016), you will help decide his fate either as a defense attorney, prosecuting attorney, judge, juror or witness. Your job will be to actively engage in the process of research as it relates to your role and work with your peers to ensure that justice is served.
Letters:
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/johnbrown/brownprisonletters.html
http://www.wvculture.org/history/jbexhibit/jbprimarydocuments.html
Additional Articles:
https://drive.google.com/a/ipsd.org/file/d/0B4DlxJ7vy13iRi03bHJoMERGNGc/edit
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B4Meis0mGFngRGVjWHZ4akp5OUk
Video Background (See more videos in the notes):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TleJqwUoLYs
Sources:
John Brown Speech at his Trial
John Brown and the Valley of the Shadow
John Brown Holy War
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/john_brown.asp
http://www.vlib.us/amdocs/texts/ajohnson1859.html
http://law.missouri.edu/bowman/hatts/john_brown/johnbrown.html
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/active_learning/explorations/brown/john_brown_menu.cfm
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/active_learning/explorations/brown/john_brown_menu.cfm
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/johnbrown/brownhome.html
http://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-9-1-b-we-came-to-free-the-slaves-john-brown-on-trial
Letters John Brown wrote
http://www.wvculture.org/history/jbexhibit/jbprimarydocuments.html