9. John Brown's Holy War: Terrorist or Heroic Revolutionary?

The Civil War and Reconstruction (HIST 119)
Professor Blight narrates the momentous events of 1857, 1858, and 1859. The lecture opens with an analysis of the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858. Next, Blight analyzes the Dred Scott decision and discusses what it meant for northerners--particularly African Americans--to live in "the land of the Dred Scott decision." The lecture then shifts to John Brown. Professor Blight begins by discussing the way that John Brown has been remembered in art and literature, and then offers a summary of Brown's life, closing with his raid on Harpers Ferry in October of 1859.
00:00 - Chapter 1. Introduction
04:04 - Chapter 2. "A House Divided": The Lincoln-Douglas Debates
10:12 - Chapter 3. Implications of the Dred Scott Decision and the Panic of 1857
23:48 - Chapter 4. John Brown: His Early Life and Beliefs
45:13 - Chapter 5. Planning the Raid on Harpers Ferry
50:34 - Chapter 6. Brown's Capture and Conclusion
Complete course materials are available at the Open Yale Courses website: open.yale.edu/courses
This course was recorded in Spring 2008.