Review of a Plea for John Brown by Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau was an American Icon who was an essayist, poet, and etc amongst his life. He wrote this essay and later presented it as a speech he delivered to an audience in Massachusetts. Brown with 21 other men who were abolitionist raid on Harpers Ferry to arm slaves. After the raid he was sent to jail and later executed for murder. After this his belongings were found his essay was sent to be inductee into Echoes of Harper’s Ferry for people to read. Thoreau essay introduced John Brown fight he had for abolition, and he admired Brown for his bravery, high moral and humane. Henry Thoreau and John Brown both make a point, it is very similar and it is: that it is noble and right to act according to one’s principles, even though one actions appear to be against the law. This story should be added to the class calendar because it displays the government does not always make a law right which causes people to take the law into their own hands.

After reading this essay by Thoreau, it told the story of a brave John Brown on what he stood up for, and how he expressed his opinion with no fear, even if it was a law he did not care. His goal was to start an armed slave revolt and destroy the institution of slavery, led by abolitionist. He told the people how he felt the Government should be run and how the laws should be made. In the essay, Thoreau pleads Brown legacy even after he was convicted of treason against VA, of conspiracy with slaves and first degree murder. Henry Thoreau goes on to use religion for a lot of examples, but specifically when the Government and citizens made a choice to hang John Brown because of his “wrong doing.” Thoreau started to compare John Brown with Christ he said, “you pretend to care for Christ crucified, consider what you are about to do to him who offered himself to be the saviour of four million men.”

This story gives people who read this details and a visual of who John Brown really was, what he stood for, and the mission he was on to revolt slavery. As there are many Americans who believe in the true meaning of “equality and freedom” especially John Brown. Later after his raid at harper ferry, later after his death the build up between the north vs south had finally led to the Civil War, it shows the impact Brown made in America. For many people that does not know the story of John Brown and what he did for America, but specifically for “African-Americans” he is someone to research, he made sure his voice was to be heard across the nation. He is an important piece of history for the U.S. today, he stood up for slavery which was something years after his death was ended, so that shows the courage he had, to make a change in America.