What event is John Brown most famously associated with?

John Brown is most famously associated with the raid on Harpers Ferry because this event marked a significant moment in the escalation of tensions leading up to the American Civil War. In 1859, Brown led a small group of supporters in an attempt to seize the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, with the aim of initiating an armed slave revolt. He believed that by capturing the armory and distributing weapons to enslaved people, he could incite a broader rebellion against slavery.

This raid was pivotal as it highlighted the mounting conflict surrounding the issue of slavery in the United States. Although the raid was ultimately unsuccessful and resulted in Brown's capture and execution, it garnered national attention, inflamed sectional tensions, and made Brown a martyr for the abolitionist cause. His actions were seen as both radical and courageous, pushing the country closer to civil war. The raid was a clear embodiment of the abolitionist movement's more militant tactics, distinguishing Brown's approach from other efforts, such as the Underground Railroad or the literary contributions of figures like Harriet Beecher Stowe in "Uncle Tom's Cabin."