Website
Virginia Historical Society

Virginia Historical Society: The Portent: John Brown's Raid in American Memory

For Students 9th - 10th
Online companion of an exhibition mounted in 2009 to commemorate the anniversary of John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry examines Brown's role as a catalyst of the American Civil War.
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs: Cet: Africans in America: The Raid on Harper's Ferry

For Students 9th - 10th
PBS' four-part series, "Africans in America," highlights the antislavery movement, including a focus on John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry. Content includes a description of the event, as well as the after-effects including the news of...
Website
University of Virginia

University of Virginia: John Brown and the Valley of the Shadow

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a look at John Brown's life. Content includes a chronology of events in his life, a look at his family and cohorts, newspaper articles, eyewitness accounts, and more.
Unknown Type
Stanford University

Beyond the Bubble: John Brown's Legacy

For Teachers 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students answer questions about a poster for a play written in 1936 that celebrates the abolitionist John Brown, who tried to start a slave revolt in Harpers Ferry, Virginia, in 1859.
Lesson Plan
Stanford University

Sheg: Document Based History: Reading Like a Historian: John Brown

For Teachers 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Young scholars use primary source documents to investigate central historical questions. In this investigation, students must determine whether John Brown was a "misguided fanatic," by examining a...
eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: John Brown and the Election of 1860

For Students 11th - 12th
By reading this section from a chapter on " The Tumultuous 1850s," students will be able to describe John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry and analyze the results of the election of 1860.
Primary
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: Trial of John Brown: Lee's Report on the Attack at Harper's Ferry

For Students 9th - 10th
The text of the message Robert E. Lee sent to his adjutant general on Oct. 19, 1859 concerning his men's actions in response to John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry.
Website
Digital History

Digital History: Harper's Ferry

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the infamous raid on Harper's Ferry by John Brown and his band in 1859. His first plan had a chance of success thought Frederick Douglass, but the plan that was carried out was doomed from the start. See what John Brown was...
Website
Library of Virginia

Death or Liberty: John Brown's Raid

For Students 9th - 10th
The Library of Virginia details John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry as a prelude to the U.S. Civil War. Content also lists various records and resources regarding John Brown's Raid held in the library.
Handout
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: The Trial of John Brown

For Students 9th - 10th
An excellent presentation on the trial and the life of John Brown. You can read a report of the trial itself, view images related to John Brown and much more.
Article
Henry J. Sage

Sage American History: John Brown at Harper's Ferry

For Students 9th - 10th
Article on John Brown's raid on the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry including excerpts from the U.S. Senate report on the case as well as John Brown's last speech and letter.
Article
PBS

Africans in America: John Brown's Black Raiders

For Students 9th - 10th
This page provides information on the black men who took part in John Brown's Raid. Includes quotes of associates referring to the men.
Unit Plan
Read Works

Read Works: John Brown's Antislavery Raid

For Teachers 4th - 6th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This ReadWorks passage provides a brief history of John Brown, an American abolitionist. A paired passage, a lower level passage with related content, and a question sheet are available to help students...
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: John Brown's Raid

For Students 5th - 8th
John Brown was considered a madman by many and a martyr by others. Read about his ill-fated raid on the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry, Virginia. Why did this raid cause such a reaction in the Southern states?
Article
PBS

Africans in America: John Brown

For Students 9th - 10th
PBS Online provides a brief biography of John Brown and the way his life affected the abolitionist movement and contributed to the start of the U.S. Civil War.
Handout
University of Virginia

John Brown and the Valley of the Shadow: The Conspirators' Biographies

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out about the men who joined John Brown in his raid on Harpers Ferry. The biographies are brief but informative. Click on the highlighted names for more information about them.
Primary
Digital Public Library of America

Dpla: John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry

For Students 9th - 10th
This collection uses primary sources to document John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry and the broad range of responses it provoked across the country. Includes a teaching guide.
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Lincoln, Douglas and Brown

For Students 9th - 10th
Overview of events of a nation in conflict including the 1858 U.S. Senate race between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas and the attack on Harpers Ferry.
Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: American Historama: John Brown

For Students 9th - 10th
Comprehensive overview presents a biography and detailed facts and information on the famous events during the life of John Brown.
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Quiz: Harpers Ferry and John Brown for Kids

For Students 1st - 9th
History Questions: Harpers Ferry and John Brown Quiz, Test, and WebQuest
Handout
Civil War Home

Home of the American Civil War: John Brown

For Students 9th - 10th
This website details the life of John Brown, the abolitionist, including his attack at Pottawatomie and the raid at Harpers Ferry. Information is from Historical Times Encyclopedia of the Civil War.
Handout
Other

Ny History Net: The "Black Dream" of Gerrit Smith, New York Abolitionist

For Students 9th - 10th
This site talks about the life of abolitionist Gerrit Smith, who was convicted in the John Brown Raid on Harpers Ferry but maintained innocence in any involvement in planning the raid.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: The Champions of Human Liberty

For Students 9th - 10th
Frederick Douglass gave as speech praising John Brown and his raid on Harper's Ferry. He viewed Brown as a real hero of the abolitionist cause. Read his speech or listen to an excerpt.
Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Secession

For Teachers 6th - 8th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart describes events leading to secession, including John Brown's Raid, Lincoln's election, and South Carolina's break with the Union. It also includes information on the first states to...

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