On October 16th 1859, abolitionist John Brown lead a raid on a federal armory in Harpers Ferry, Virginia, now West Virginia.
The raid was an attempt to start an armed slave revolt.
The raid was put down in a couple of days; and John Brown was arrested and executed on December 2nd 1859.
George Mason University History Professor Spencer Crew discusses John Brown’s raid. Professor Crew delivers his talk at the Curtis Freewill Baptist Church in Harpers Ferry.