- Violation of States' Rights: The South viewed John Brown's raid as a blatant violation of states' rights. They believed that the federal government had no authority to interfere with the institution of slavery within individual states. Brown's raid challenged the sovereignty and autonomy that Southern states claimed over their own internal affairs.
- Abolitionist Intentions: The purpose of John Brown's raid was to incite a slave rebellion and ultimately abolish slavery in the United States. This struck at the heart of the Southern economy and social structure, which were heavily dependent on the labor of enslaved individuals. The raid threatened to disrupt the Southern way of life and the institution of slavery itself, causing fear and resentment among Southerners.
- Attack on Harpers Ferry: Harpers Ferry was a strategically important federal armory located in present-day West Virginia. Brown's decision to attack a federal installation added another layer of concern for the South. They saw it as a direct assault on the United States government and a demonstration of the willingness of abolitionists to use violent means to achieve their goals.
- Perceived Threat to Southern Lives and Property: Southerners feared that Brown's raid could inspire similar uprisings or slave revolts in other parts of the South. They worried about the potential loss of life, destruction of property, and the disruption of their social order. The raid intensified their paranoia and heightened their anxieties about the growing abolitionist movement.
- Racial and Cultural Divide: The South had a deeply entrenched belief in white superiority and the social separation of races. John Brown's raid highlighted the growing divide between the North and South on issues related to slavery, race, and social equality. Many Southerners saw Brown as a dangerous radical who sought to undermine their culture, traditions, and values.