Ask AI: What events or actions happened as a direct result of john brown's raid at harpers ferry?

John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry had significant events and actions that transpired as a direct result. Some of these outcomes include: 1. Heightened tensions between the North and South: John Brown's raid intensified the ongoing debate on slavery and worsened the sectional tension between the Northern and Southern states. 2. Brown's execution: Following a quick arrest by U.S. Marines led by Colonel Robert E. Lee, John Brown and his co-conspirators were tried and found guilty. Brown was executed by hanging on December 2, 1859. 3. Martyrdom of John Brown: After his participation in the anti-slavery movement and subsequent execution, John Brown became a hero and martyr to abolitionists in the North. His last written words "I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood" demonstrated his unwavering dedication to ending slavery. 4. Increased southern distrust and paranoia: Fearing more violent abolitionist attacks, the South increased its defenses and consequently became more suspicious of those who appeared to oppose slavery. This climate of distrust further contributed to the rise in sectional tension. 5. Creation of militias in the South: In response to John Brown's raid, Southern states began to form militias to protect themselves from potential violent insurrections by abolitionists or slaves. 6. Impact on the 1860 presidential election: The raid on Harpers Ferry served to exacerbate political divisions and played a role in the 1860 presidential election. The Republican Party, which opposed the expansion of slavery, won the election with Abraham Lincoln as president. This development fueled further secessionist sentiments in the Southern states. 7. Acceleration towards the Civil War: The deepening divide between the North and South after the incident at Harpers Ferry was a significant factor in the lead-up to the American Civil War. The tensions and hostility resulting from the raid and its consequences ultimately played a part in the secession of the Southern states and the beginning of the war in 1861.