Question

This is a letter to John Brown from Frances Watkins, a free black living in Kendallville, Indiana. It appears in "Freedom's Unfinished Revolution," by William Friedheim and The American Social History Project. Nov. 25, 1859 Dear Friend: Although the hands of Slavery throw a barrier between you and me, and it may not be my privilege to see you in the prison house, Virginia has no bolts or bars through which I dread to send you my sympathy...I thank you that you have been brave enough to reach out your hands to the crushed and blighted of my race. You have rocked the bloody Bastille; and I hope from your sad fate great good may arise to the cause of freedom... To whom did Frances Watkins write this letter? What did Frances Watkins think about the person to whom she wrote the letter?

Answer 1

Frances Watkins wrote to John Brown, expressing her gratitude for his efforts to aid the cause of abolition and her hope that his actions would have a lasting positive impact.

Step-by-step explanation:

Frances Watkins wrote the letter to John Brown, an abolitionist who was known for his raid on Harper's Ferry in an effort to initiate a slave uprising. In the letter, we can understand that Watkins holds a high regard for Brown, thanking him for his bravery and efforts in trying to help her race. She appreciated Brown's attempt to 'rock the bloody Bastille' of slavery and expressed hope that his 'sad fate' would lead to significant advancements in the cause of freedom.