John Brown's Body

by Niiya

When I first read about John Brown I immediately came to the conclusion that he was insane. But I didn’t give it any thought. All of John Brown's decisions had meaning behind them. He understood what he was doing, but since the government and the citizens didn’t, they started to call him out of his name. Before I fully gave thought to Brown’s situation, I thought he was a terrorist. He came to a town and started to destroy it. He killed a lot of people. But what I didn’t think of was the reason he killed those people and destroyed the town. It was for his belief that humans are not property and slavery is wrong. I think this is a perfect example of why you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. I fully understand his reasons, an if you think about it, would a terrorist while killing a country? No they are destroying it because they want to get rid of the place so they can live the way they choose. John Brown died for his destruction, and that’s what a martyr does. They are willing to die for what they believe in. Go John Brown!


by Khilece

John Brown was a man of violence, and killed of no reason to others. But that reason always made perfect since in his mind. The reason to Kill because he wanted to prove a point. For example when John Brown went into a poor mans house, and shattered his TV. But after all that he’s a martyr to me. I say that because a martyr is some one who dies for something they believe in. Which he did, he was accused, and proven guilty for killing all them innocent folks. You would have thought he’d be scared! But no he embraced it like a mother’s warm hug. He explained how he knew the day would come, and how he was ready for it. So to me in the end he’s a good and bad guy.


by Rachel

John Brown was a very strong abolitionist who fought with violence to end slavery. In our history class we learned who John Brown was, and we watched a movie to understand a little better what actions he used to end slavery. Once the movie was over we had to decide if he was a martyr or terrorist, I believe John Brown was a terrorist. John Brown is a terrosrist in my eyes because he did not have to use violence to get his message across, because he used violence peolpe didn't want to listen to his message they were worried about what his next move would be. Mrs. Trenkle asked us to write an "I Am"poem, through John Browns perspective. Which helped me decided if he was more of a martyr or a terrorist.

My names is Rachel I'm 14, and an 8th grader at Stuart Hobson MS.


by Brikkia

On May 27, 2009 Ms. Trenkle 4th period class learned about a man named John Brown, and what he did for a living. John Brown was an abolitionist who fought for freedom rights. John Brown was a Martyr and some what and terrorist because he would sacrifice his life but he would also kill. Although he wanted what was right he had to kill for what he truly believed in. John Brown was also brave and loyal and he dreamed of the day slaves would be freed. Some people thought what John Brown was crazy and what he was doing was wrong. Because he murdered lots of people some for only little reason but John Brown didn’t let that stop him he fought for what he believed in. That’s what makes him amazing in his own little way.


by Dietra

John Brown was a man of action -- a man who would not be deterred from his mission of abolishing slavery. On October 16, 1859, he led 21 men on a raid of the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry, Virginia. John Brown was born into a deeply religious family in Torrington, Connecticut, in 1800. I think he was a martyr because even though he killed people trying to get his way he was fighting for something good. He was a good man even though he killed people and he died for a good cause.