Considering the circumstances of 1859, it is important to note that the country was deeply divided over the issue of slavery. The Southern states were determined to protect their way of life, which included the institution of slavery, while the Northern states were increasingly opposed to slavery. Brown's raid was seen by many in the South as an act of aggression against their way of life, and it further inflamed tensions between the North and the South.
While Brown's actions may have been misguided and ultimately counterproductive, it is difficult to deny his commitment to the cause of abolition. He believed that slavery was a moral abomination and that it was his duty to fight against it. In a letter written just before his execution, Brown stated, "I am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood." Whether or not Brown was right in his actions, his legacy as a passionate and uncompromising advocate for abolition is undeniable.