Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Terrorist or Passionate Abolitionist?


Think about the discussions we have had about John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry. Many have differing opinions about his actions. Were they passionate attempts to abolish slavery or was his actions just as harmful as enslaving innocent people? 

109 comments:

  1. He was doing cruel things but for a good reason. I'm not sure what side i would be on. If i were a slave I would be on his side. If I was a citizen I would not be on his side.
    - Delaney :)

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    1. ok i think he is a leader in slave rights before hung#Nalah

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    2. delany,
      i agree with you.

      -Tori Williams:)

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    3. Well what kind of citizen would you be?
      -Raina Huchteman

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  2. I think John Browns actions were to abolish slavery, but I think he could have done it a better way.

    ~Roswell
    ______________________________________________________________________________

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  3. I think that even though John Brown was trying to abolish slavery, he killed a lot of people. I think that even he shouldn't have did the raid because it is just as bad as enslaving innocent people.
    - Isabella Luz

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    1. I meant, I think that he shouldn't have done the raid. Not did.
      -Isabella Luz

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  4. i get he want to stand up for slaves but by him doing so he hert a lot of people so i think because of he wanted to stand up for them #Nalah

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    1. I don`t agree. I believe he was just freeing slaves.
      - Parker Pape

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  5. I belive that his actions were to help enslaved people and that is good. I mean we already had the civil war. He was really trying to help.

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    1. Sorry,
      -Parker Pape

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    2. i dont agree@@$$##Nalah

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    3. I understand your point, Parker. However, I'm wondering if he could've just done that more peacefully, like other abolitionists.I think that he did what he did for a good reason, he just should've found another way to do that.
      ~Annabelle :3

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  6. i think that john brown was both. he was being good when he was trying to stop slavery but he was being harmful and cruel when he was killing the slave owners. i think that he could have gone up to the slave owners and talk to them and not use harmful ways.

    -Tori Williams:)

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    1. He couldn't just talk to the slave owners because the slave owners relied on slaves and without slaves they would go broke. But, otherwise I agree with you.
      -Losha

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  7. I think that John Brown was a good man but his actions were not the best way to handle slavery.

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  8. I believe that John Brown did the wrong thing for killing innocent people. Their could have been a different way to resolve this problem. Everybody has different opinions. His was that he wanted to abolish slavery. Did he ever come to think that people could have different opinions. People that wanted slavery could have also killed many people just like he did because they did not agree with them. I believe that his actions WERE as bad as enslaving innocent people. People were dying because they wanted slavery. That should not be a death penalty. People should have a right to their own opinions.That, in my opinion is just as bad as being enslaved.

    -Cortney Klein

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    1. I totally agree with you, I sort of said that but I think that hen was a good man for wanting to abolish slavery, because it was wrong, but he just did it violently.

      _JASON (:

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  9. I think and this is just me but i think that John Brown's actions were necessary because there never should've been slavery! That is what the war was all about. Am i right? Also his actions were harmful. He should have just talked to Lincoln and tell him to make a law of having no slaves. Then there would not be so many people dead and John Brown could just talk about it with the people.

    _JASON (:
    ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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    1. 1st Lincoln did the the emancipation proclamation and 2nd Lincoln can only approve laws not make that is not his job.

      RODRIGO

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  10. I believe that John Brown was a passionate abolitionist. He was not focused on being a terrorist and did not kill just to make a nation or any community of some sort collapse. He simply wanted no slavery, but was an extremist (the same as passionate) in doing so. He could've just used his words, and he would've been fine. (or dead) Do not use violence to express your opinions. I'm sure many other people would've said the same. (except some high-ranking people in the military) But then again, without John Brown's violence, John Brown would probably never be known

    -Max Willis

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    1. YES!! Exactly! I think that he did everything right except the fact that he shot people at their front door if they did believe in slavery. He did not need to talk it out because he would have ended up dead earlier. But that does not mean the violence was necessary.
      ~Coco L.

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  11. I think that what he did was good because he was fighting for something he loved!!!One thing that he should of done first though is go march in the streets and if that did not work he should did what he did. :)
    -Sarah Madlem

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    1. I agree, Sarah. John Brown could have worked out his actions in other ways

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    2. I agree Sarah although he was a little bit harsh(a lot bit harsh)
      ~Michael

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  12. I think he was doing the right thing but a little bit to harsh because he was fighting for freedom and independence. He should have just talked to them about it.
    ~Michael

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  13. Maybe he was trying to abolish slavery, but he could have done it another way. In my opinion John Brown's raid was as harmful as enslaving people.Those people might not have been slaves but they were killed for nothing because killing people won't help slavery. > Lucy Adams

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  14. I believe that what John Brown did was wrong because he was also killing people and doing something wrong. This problem could of been resolved in a different way there is no reason for violence. He cant just come to someones house and kill someone for having slaves even if you think you are doing something right this makes you as bad as they are. so in my opinion
    he was sort of a bad person.
    - Hanna

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  15. yes i think his actions were just harming innocent people and it would be much better if he didn't raid the people.
    ~Peyton :D

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  16. Delaney I think you have a point but I think that even if I was a slave or a citizen I would be on his side because he was against slavery, but I wouldn't be a part of the raid.
    - Isabella Luz

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  17. John Brown could have protested civilly instead of shooting people at the door to their house.Although the way he did it was probably more fun............. but wrong ; ( ; (
    *Jasmine

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  18. i think john browns heart was in the right place but killing does not make you any better than the slave owners. - james

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  19. That's exactly what he should have done, Max! (with a little humor) you should always talk out your problems! >Lucy Adams

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  20. I personally think that John Brown's actions were passionate and that he truly believed in abolishing slavery, but at the same time, he went a little overboard and shot people with a gun at their front door if they believed in slavery. Now that is just... (what's the word?) cruel? But still, it was kind of... helpful in some way?
    ~Coco L.

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    1. I put this on Emma's to, there is no board in this situation he is the human version of superman saving people from bad people (slave owners) slavery is BBEEYYOONNDD LIMITS, it is not cruel it is just what is right.

      Rodrigo

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  21. I totally agree that slaves were VERY wrong!!!!!! John Brown just went a little overboard... So I think what John did was beyond bad but I think enslaving people is way worse. I think so because enslaving people went on for years, also they didn't have the right to enslave innocent people!!!):

    ~Emma L.

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    1. There is no board in this situation he is the human version of superman saving people from bad people (slave owners) slavery is BBEEYYOONNDD LIMITS, it is not beyond bad it is just what is right.

      Rodrigo

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    2. I agree, John Brown did go a little overboard wasn't exactly bad he just fought for what he believed in, in the wrong way.
      ~Hannah G.~

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  22. Some people believe Mr.John Brown is a terrorist..................... hmmmm? maybe ......

    IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TERRORIST MEANS.
    A terrorist is a person that makes people afraid of them and is doing mean things to scare people just because.

    John Brown was not doing this just because, he hated slavery and he strongly showed it as we can clearly see. John was doing this for people mainly African Americans do you really think he did this just for fun I give Brown credit for starting the war and "killing slavery". If it were not for him who knew how or who would start the war. John brown is not a terrorist he is a VERY fierce abolitionist but absolutely did nothing wrong the way i see it.

    RODRIGO

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  23. (I keep pressing back page on my mouse and this is the third time I have attempted writing this ._.) I think what John Brown did was completely appropriate, after all Mr.Brown was a "radical" abolitionist which means he did crazy things that someone strongly believes in, and in Mr.Brown's case he strongly believed in slavery so he did crazy things for the cause. Besides, if Brown went around knocking on peoples doors and asking them in they believed in slavery, there would be no point in doing so. He wouldn't be doing anything practically. So when Brown went around to peoples houses and knocked on their doors and if they believed in slavery Brown shot them in the head. Also, when Brown went to the Harper's Ferry Weaponry and Arsenal and raided there to get weapons was completely right. He attempted to get the slaves to come with him and overrule their masters, but the problem was that the slaves were scared and worried that they would get whipped or even worse, killed. This would've worked out perfectly except that John got hanged after all this. You could say this was a good death because he died in what he believed in. :/

    ~Salter~ (Longest Comment I have written in weeks)

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  24. no I do not think that he was very passionate and did not work that hard to work on
    -jack hellenga

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  25. I think john brown was just a thoughtful man who believed that slavery was bad and wanted to avenge people- Triston

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  26. I think John Brown had the right idea he just went about it the wrong way. He was trying to get people to treat slaves right and to stop hurting them when he went around hurting people that owned slaves. it is like hurting people for believing in something different than what you believe in.
    -Hannah G.

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  27. I have mixed feelings about john brown because he used violence to stop slavery which could have got the union into a war because he was one of the first people who caused violence and what if the union got into a war because of john brown and the union lost.Also i think that he did the right thing to raid harpers ferry because it scared slave owners which i think was good.
    - harry

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  28. I think he was doing the right thing. By killing a slave owner was kind of like making less deaths. Also if he gave slaves weapons it would probably be to scare slave owners. Slaves would not know how to work the weapons for the most part.

    -Jeffrey Oz Hallett

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  29. I think what he did was ok because if the slave owner kill a slave for cooking their soup wrong, than its ok to kill someone if they were killing other people for worst reasons.

    -Harper

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  30. I think that John Brown's actions were terrible and cruel, but not worse than slavery. I also think that it was both to abolish slavery and abolish all those who believed in slavery.
    -Will

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  31. John Brown is a cereal killer!!!!!!! I mean talk about the golden rule! Honestley most of the people who had slaves where born into owning slaves. They had no idea they where doing something wrong! Would you want to be killed for beliveing in your life long beief?John Brown should have remembered treat others the way you want to be treated.
    -Raina H

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    1. Hey Raina, not to be mean or anything but a "cereal" killer is not a thing. A "serial" killer is a thing and a serial killer is not what John Brown was because John Brown did do that for psychological benefit, but that doesn't mean that John Brown was a serial killer. And also WE ALL know that killing your cereal is not a psychological benefit :) !

      ~Salter~

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    2. Ok let me add a sentence to mine, "Serial" killers kill repeatedly for psychological benefit!

      ~Salter~

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    3. I understand what your saying, but think of it this way; if someone in your community believed that darker skinned people were only animals and that person treated them like that, wouldn't you put an end to it, even if it was through violence? I mean, slave owners killed plenty of slaves, so wasn't John Brown just evening out the score a bit?
      -Aisling

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  32. I think John Brown did the right thing. I know killing people is wrong and everything but look how bad the slave owners treated the slaves. They punished them harshly if their dinner was just the tiniest bit overcooked. Also you guys have said that John Brown could have just talked to the slave owners about it, but you have to remember that the slave owners relied on slaves and they would go broke if they didn't have any. All in all, I believe tat John Brown's actions were right!
    -Losha

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    1. I agree with Losha John Brown stood up for what was right or left [good one sophia] but anyway even if owners relied on slaves that much it still was not the right thing to do- Triston &&&&&&&&&&&&& birdies

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    2. I totally agree losha !
      - dillon

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  33. he believed that slavery should stop so he took action trying to give slaves weapons so they can fight there way out of being a slave he died for what he thought was right and that means he is a good person even though he should of tried to talk to them first

    Alec Lozano

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  34. I think he did the right thing and the wrong thing. The reason i think it's wrong is because he was killing people to get his point across. The reason i think its right is because he taught the slave owners who it felt who the slave owners felt. -Mia Cabral

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    1. Yes, I agree. His heart was in the right place. Yet, he was expressing his feelings too violently.

      ~Sofia ♪♪♪♪♪♪♪

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  35. I believe that what he did was okay because even though he was killing people they were in a war.
    -Lexi

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  36. I believe that what John Brown did was bad because he really did not have to kill everyone because he could have said hey lets team up and do something not I am going to kill you. So I think he was wrong to do that.
    ~Sierra

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  37. i believe that what he did was okay because even though we was killing people he though that slaves were the wrong thing to do so that why he was killing people because he though it was very bad.
    -ryan

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    1. I think your right;)
      -Kadavy

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    2. I think your answer is true, but he could have used less violence.
      - annie

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  38. I think he was just passionate about anti-slavery. So what if he....ok nevermind i see your point but he stood up for whats right.... or left. Anyways John Brown believed that slavery was wrong aqnd wanted to stop it. Many people have tried to talk it out but failed. So Brown anwsered with violence. In conclusion I beleive that Joh Brown was passionate about his beleifs.
    - Sophia S. $ $
    V

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    1. oops sorry disregard the stuff next to my name - sophia ( again )

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  39. I think he had the right idea but could have been a bit less extreme and explain how slavery was bad but if they tried to fight back I could understand why he would shoot them. So overall i think he was a Passionate Abolitionist

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  40. I think John Brown was doing the right thing because if people weren't going to free their slaves then he would do it for them.
    -Kadavy

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    1. YOU'RE KIDDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

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  41. I think that John Brown could have talked about it instead of killing people. He could have wrote a book like Harriet stowe did or not use violence to make people not belive in slavery.
    - annie

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    1. Yes! His heart was in the right place, yet he was violent. Shooting people just infuriated the South more. He was found and hanged. If he had done something peaceful to help slaves, he could have helped more slaves for a longer amount of time.

      -Sofia™

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  42. I think he did the right thing in the wrong way. He went up to people's doors and shot them if they owned slaves. He could have worked as a conductor for the underground railroad, he still would be helping slaves to freedom.

    -Sofia

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    1. Yep. Way more peaceful.
      -Noah Fasil Muche

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  43. I think He did good But his Actions Were a little harsh
    ~eden PS. I have Done the blog BEFORE! it Probaly Didnt save

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  44. John Brown had no right to kill innocent people. Unlike slavery, killing people is illegal, however both are wrong. Violence is never the answer, and John Brown got the wrong idea about fighting for what's right. Slavery could've been abolished peacefully with compromises. It's easy to understand that John Brown was against slavery, but stealing weapons from the military and killing slave owners wouldn't have fixed slavery, in fact it got him hanged. I think John Brown's punishment was reasonable and that he was a terrorist and not a true U.S citizen.

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    1. Oops! That's me, Annabelle, sorry!
      ~Annabelle

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    2. Sorry, but I disagree! He may not have fought right, but he fought for the right thing.
      -Aisling

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  45. I think his heart was in the right place, but he still could have done something different. Even if the slaves were to have an uprising, how much damage would they really do before they were all killed? Also, he went around killing slave owners, right? Well, think about it; What would happen to the slaves after he killed their owners? I mean, it's not like they were free just because their owner was dead. Their owner probably had a family, who most likely didn't want to let the slaves go. Even if that wasn't the case, they were still surrounded by people who believed in slavery. Killing the slave owners and leading an uprising didn't really help anyone, but it did harm quite a few people. As I said, his heart was in the right place, but I don't think he did exactly the right thing to follow it. Therefore, I think both.
    -Aisling
    P.S. Ms. Hall, I know our blogposts were supposed to be short and to the point, but Ifeel that all I said is necessary.

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  46. Sorry I feel that all this was necessary!
    -Aisling

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  47. I think that John Brown's actions were not necessary because you can't just go around killing people if they believed in slavery.
    ~Mia O.

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    1. Never judge a person by the first thing about them that you see.
      -Noah Fasil Muche

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  48. I believe that he tried to make a big impact on the fact that slavery was very bad and getting out of hand, but I also, along with most of you, think that he took it too far, or as Ms. Riggins would say, "he did the most". First, he didn't have to seize some citizens and army men, and kill anyone who owned slaves!! Also, a different way he could've shown his anger or hatred towards owning slaves would maybe try and convince the public or, most importantly, the southerners why owning slaves was bad; write a book, speech, or news paper.
    -Sarah Prevost

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  49. I think he went a little overboard but at the same time they kind of had it coming. But as I said he took it just a little to far

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  50. I guess they didn't deserve that much of a punishment, but they made the slaves wish that they were dead. So they kind of deserved it. Like 50/50.
    -Noah Fasil Muche

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  51. I think that John Brown was a terrorist because he just went up to slave owners and killed them. He believed strongly in abolishing slavery but you cant just do that he should of took his anger out with a diary or a poem.
    -Katie Mae Sigal

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  52. I feel like John Brown was a terrorist because he would kill so many people. Sure what they were doing was wrong, but they should not be punished by death! Also, its against the law to just KILL people.

    -Ava Reese

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  53. I also feel like John Brown was a terrorist. He KILLED so many people. The people did not really know what they were doing wrong. Being KILLED was a unfair punishment. Some times people just do what other people do so they just don't know whats wrong. And he probably did know it was against the law to KILL PEOPLE


    - Parker Vellieux

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    1. Parker, I understand what you are saying, going around killing people was not the best way to stop slavery, but think about "What were his intentions??!!?!?!?" He believed into the right thing, he just didn't display it in the best way.

      -Alessia

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  54. I believe he was both. He did was what right, but he went to the max level. Just think, if you didn't like your homework, do you throw it in the paper shredder? No. You don't. You wouldn't do that unless you really hated it. So the same think is with John Brown. He hated some people, but he killed them. He took it too far. His opinion is good, but he deserved to be punished. Would you go up the someone's house and say,

    "Hi!"

    "Hi!"

    "How are you doing?"

    "Very good. What about you?"

    "Do you have slaves?"

    "Yes,but....

    *shoots gun*

    See what I mean?

    Damian Read

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    1. John Brown probably just knocked on someone's door and asked if they had any slaves, and if they said yes he would just shoot them. He probably wouldn't be all polite since he was a "radical" person.
      -Tina

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    2. Damian you are right but he believed what he thought was right so i think he was good.

      Alec lozano

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  55. I think that John Brown did what was right, but it was really harsh. What I mean by harsh is that he just went up to them and killed them if they had slaves. It was the right thing to believe that slavery was a bad thing but he took it too far! Just imagine him walking up to a house and a kid answered the door. The kid said that his family had slaves. Would he shoot him then. It is really sad but true. Overall, I think that John Brown did the wrong thing for the right reason.
    -Bella

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  56. I think that John Brown was very passionate about what he was doing. He was just a little harsh about it. I do respect that he cared so much about ending slavery.

    -Evan Planeaux

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  57. In my opinion John Brown intended the right thing, but he made an unnecessary decision by going around killing slavery supporters. John Brown did the wrong thing but believed in the right thing.

    -Alessia

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  58. I think that John Brown wanted to do the right thing but he did it in a way that made him look like a terrorist. -Haden

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  59. I think John Brown shouldn't have led the raid because shooting people is wrong. Enslaved people probably didn't know how to shoot guns, and they might have been afraid of shooting their "masters" because they probably didn't want to die themselves. John Brown might have believed the right thing but, he did the wrong thing to show it.
    -Tina

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  60. I believe John Brown's actions were good because he was helping to end slavery.

    Ava Murphree

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  61. I think he was a terrorist because he killed people who made a mistake. He could of persuaded them. KMD

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  62. John Brown was passionate about no slavery, but he took it a little too far killing random slave owners

    Brady

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  63. John Brown was passionate about slavery but he took it a little to far and started to kill random people instead of taking it a little less serious the first time and like talking to them or persuading them.

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  64. That was Greta sorry forgot to put my name.:)

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