- His belief in the abolition of slavery: Brown was a staunch abolitionist and believed that slavery was a moral evil that needed to be eradicated. He saw the raid at Harpers Ferry as an opportunity to strike a blow against slavery and inspire others to join the fight for abolition.
- The Kansas conflict: In the 1850s, Kansas was a battleground between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces. Brown had been involved in the conflict and had witnessed the violence and bloodshed that resulted from it. He believed that the raid at Harpers Ferry would help to bring the issue of slavery to a head and force the federal government to take action to end it.
- His religious beliefs: Brown was a deeply religious man and believed that he was acting in accordance with God's will when he planned the raid at Harpers Ferry. He saw himself as a Moses-like figure who was leading his people out of bondage.
Ultimately, it was John Brown's combination of abolitionist beliefs, his experiences in the Kansas conflict, and his religious convictions that led him to launch the raid at Harpers Ferry.