Final answer:
John Brown attacked the federal armory at Harpers Ferry to start a slave revolt and lead a rebellion against slaveholders.
Step-by-step explanation:
John Brown attacked the federal armory at Harpers Ferry in order to start a slave revolt. He believed that by seizing the weapons from the armory, he could arm enslaved African Americans and lead them in a rebellion against slaveholders. Brown hoped that this would spark a larger uprising against slavery.
Learn more about John Brown's attack on Harpers Ferry