John Brown was one of the most revolutionary figure of the Civil War. Born in Torrington, Connecticut in 1800, into a family who was violently against slavery, John was dedicated to getting rid of slavery no matter what he had to do.

He moved around the country, working as a farmer, tanner, wool merchant and land trader, but he never made much money. Even though he had financial problems, he always found ways to support the fight against slavery. Some have called him a saint; others a cold-blooded murderer.

In 1847 John Brown met Frederick Douglass at Springfield, Massachusetts, to discuss his plan to lead a war to free slaves. John Brown had strongly believed in socializing and associating with the Blacks in the community no matter what society at that time thought appropriate. Even the dedicated abolitionists were often hesitant to the idea of all people being equal.

John Brown became an important figure in 1855 after following five of his sons to Kansas, a slave state. Brown led a sawmill party of men to seek revenge on an attack of blacks on the free soil town of Lawrence. They took 5 pro-slavery settlers from their homes and brutally killed them. His actions in Kansas brought him national attention, not all of it positive.

John Brown developed a plan to arm the slaves. He led 21 of his men in an assault on the federal weapons arsenal at Harpers Ferry. His plan didn't work and most of his men were killed or captured. Brown was tried and convicted of treason against the state of Virginia. He was hung on December 2, 1859, for the crimes of encouraging slaves to revolt, treason and murder.

John Brown's death was a turning point towards the starting of the Civil War.