John Brown: The Ultimate Conflicting Figure

Passion is a good thing.  I believe God gives people talents and passion about certain things so they will work hard and glorify Him through their efforts.  Sometimes, though, people are misguided on how to effectively channel their passion which can end disastrously.  Perhaps no better example exists in American history than John Brown.

Brown was a RADICAL abolitionist who favored violence and slave uprisings over civil discourse and national legislation.  He was involved in Bleeding Kansas, a "pre Civil War of sorts in the Midwest", where some of his men brutally slaughtered proslavery citizens during the dead of night.  He never admitted to killing anyone personally, but he witnessed countless violent acts perpetrated by his followers.  He laid low for a while after these so-called "Pottawatomie Massacres", but popped back upon the national radar in Harpers Ferry, VA.

Harpers Ferry was a federal arsenal where weapons, ammunition and gun powder were stored.  His plan was to overtake the arsenal, disperse the inventory to slaves and instigate America's largest slave insurrection. He did overtake the arsenal, but few slaves joined in the fight and Brown was captured while his men fled.  He was hung for treason in October 1859.  Slavery was eventually abolished, but he was not alive to see it.

Brown, as you can imagine, was well loved by some and reviled by others. A free African American wrote to Brown saying, "I thank you that you have been brave enough to reach out your hands to the crushed and blighted of my race."  A newspaper in the South held the opposite view.  "The miserable old traitor and murderer belongs to the gallows (the place where a person is hung), and the gallows will have its own."

So, was he right to take radical measures to fight against an institution as evil as slavery?  Is it ever justifiable to "do wrong to do good"?  Watch this video and in the comments section thoughtfully analyze Brown's actions.  Was he to be commended because slavery was so bad, or was he a villain?

Utopias: Religious Devotion or Congregational Hiding?

Utopian movements played a significant role in the settling of America.  Such movements, typically religious in nature, stem from the desire to live a holy and secluded life free from the dictates of society.  In order to achieve this "ideal society", believers usually spent their days in self-sufficient communities in secluded areas in order to maximize their separation from "the world".

One famous Utopian movement that has survived is the Mormons.  Joseph Smith received his visions for this "religion" in New York, but was persecuted greatly.  His tribe moved to the Midwest, where Smith was killed for his beliefs.  Brigham Young took the reins and led his people into Utah.  It was here he established the community known as Deseret, which was later incorporated into America after the Mexican War. Obviously, the Mormon movement has thrived worldwide and they are still a very viable community.  In fact, the presumptive Republican nominee for this fall's General Election is a practicing Mormon.

Most Utopian movements fail because their beliefs are, well, weird.  The Mormons survived in spite of their polygamy (multiple wives) policy.  Other groups have folded because their leader, under the guise of "spiritual leadership", really just wanted to control people.  In most cases, as people began to speak out against the leader they would be ostracized or physically punished.  This treatment usually proved the rebel's point rather than quieted the uproar.

Another famous American Utopian movement was the Shakers.  These people were an offshoot of the Quaker movement and got their name for the dances they performed during their church services.  Read this article to discover a personal account of one man's stay with the Shakers.  In the comments section, discuss your thoughts on Utopian movements.  Are people to be commended for abandoning society in order to follow their strict religious beliefs?  Do you see it more of a "hiding game" where people can't deal with society so they run away under the banner of "freedom of religion"?

The Demon Drink: Alcohol Reform in America

This picture says it all.  American women were tired of their husbands being drunk all the time.  A new sense of empowerment was sweeping through the country.  Women were beginning to see their role in society as moral compasses; that is, to play doctor to the ills of society.  An unbridled consumption of alcohol was on the top of many women's lists.  

Temperance societies began to spring up in major cities across the country.  Most societies called for a more moderate approach to alcohol rather than total prohibition.  In fact, most states that passed prohibition laws quickly repealed them because the government could not tax an illegal (liquor in this case) substance.  Also, generally speaking, many of the temperance unions were religious in nature.

For this week's blog, you will listen to this podcast and examine the cartoon below from 1846.  In your comments, please include the following 3 items: 1) The most interesting point made by the professor who was interviewed in the podcast. 2) Your interpretation of this cartoon's meaning. 3) Create your own anti-liquor slogan as if you were the leader of a temperance union.

The steps in this cartoon, titled "The Drunkard's Progress", are as follows:
1) A Glass With A Friend
2) A Glass To Keep The Bold Chat
3) A Glass Too Much
4) Drunk & Riotous
5) The Summit Attained. Jolly Companions. A Confirmed Drunkard.
6) Poverty & Disease
7) Forsaken By Friends
8) Desperation & Crime
9) Death By Suicide

The Donner Party: The Unsavory Side of Westward Expansion

The Donner Party is one of the most infamous tales of the dangers of American westward expansion.  These people, in an attempt to take a shortcut, lengthened their journey and caused more harm for their people.  Read this story and answer the following questions in the comments section:
1) Would you have done the same things the Donner Party did to survive?
2) Was it wrong of them to go to such lengths to survive?