Put yourself in the shoes of John Brown. Consider why he acted so violently against pro-slavery supporters in Kansas. Then, in the space below, write a short diary entry from his perspective. Summarize your actions in Kansas, and explain why you did what you did.
John Brown was a fervent abolitionist who believed that slavery should be eradicated immediately and by any means necessary. He saw the violence and brutality of slavery firsthand and was deeply disturbed by it. Brown was particularly incensed by the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854, which allowed for popular sovereignty to determine whether territories would allow slavery or not. This led to a wave of pro-slavery supporters moving into Kansas to sway the vote in their favor.
In response, Brown gathered a group of like-minded individuals and traveled to Kansas to fight against pro-slavery forces. He engaged in several violent conflicts, including the Pottawatomie Massacre, where he and his followers killed five pro-slavery settlers in retaliation for an earlier attack on free-state men.
If John Brown were to write a diary entry about his actions in Kansas, it might read something like this:
"Today marks another victory for our cause. We struck a blow against the forces of slavery and showed them that we will not stand idly by while they terrorize innocent people. Our actions may seem extreme to some, but we must remember that these are extreme times. Slavery is an abomination that must be eradicated at all costs. We will continue to fight until every man, woman, and child is free from its shackles."