Final answer:
John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry aimed to initiate a slave uprising by distributing seized weapons to enslaved people, but it failed when he was captured by federal troops.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry was to seize weapons to distribute to enslaved people for a massive uprising. On October 16, 1859, Brown and his followers captured the arsenal with the goal of arming slaves and initiating a revolt against slavery.
Despite securing financial support from several abolitionists known as the "Secret Six," the raid failed when few enslaved people rallied, and federal troops led by Colonel Robert E. Lee captured Brown and his men.
Brown's actions increased tensions leading up to the Civil War, with some northerners viewing him as a martyr, while southerners feared further violent abolitionist plots and moved closer towards secession.
The complete question is: The purpose of John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry had been to _________. is: