Who Is john brown and what did he do prior to civil war?
John Brown was an abolitionist. He wanted to help more slaves escape to freedom. John Brown decided to raid federal arsenal in Virginia and then seize all the weapons stored there. Then he would arm the slaves in the surrounding areas. HIs army would then move south along the Appalachians, freeing slaves as they went. Brown planned to take hostage or kill any southerner who got in his way. He urged his abolitionist friends for money so he could train and supply a small army. After two years of fundraising, John Brown’s army contained 22 men — including himself and his 3 sons.