To his supporters, John Brown was a Christian martyr who sacrificed his life for the emancipation of African Americans; his opponents viewed him as a deranged fanatic willing to inaugurate an insurrection to advance his bloodthirsty design. This unit explores Brown from both perspectives. Lessons—including two Readers Theatre scripts—are based on historical documents such as Brown’s own words and Robert E. Lee’s report on the Harpers Ferry Raid.
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