Question

What was the main impact of John Brown’s Raid on Harpers Ferry? It reaffirmed most people's belief that abolitionists were too radical.

Answer 1

John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry heightened tensions between the North and the South, reinforcing the perception that abolitionists were too radical. It also transformed Brown into a martyr for some in the North and deepened the divide between the two regions.

Step-by-step explanation:

John Brown’s Raid on Harpers Ferry had a significant impact on both the North and the South. In the South, it heightened fears of slave uprisings and led to increased support for secession. Many viewed Brown as a terrorist, and his actions reinforced the belief that abolitionists were too radical. In the North, public opinion initially criticized Brown's tactics, but his composure during his trial and execution transformed him into a martyr for some. The raid further deepened the divide between the North and the South, setting the stage for the presidential election and the eventual outbreak of the Civil War.

Answer 2

Although the raid failed, it inflamed sectional tensions and raised the stakes for the 1860 presidential election. Brown's raid helped make any further accommodation between North and South nearly impossible and thus became an important impetus of the Civil War.