- Fear of slave rebellions: Brown's raid was seen as a direct threat to the institution of slavery in the South. Southerners feared that Brown's actions would inspire slaves to rebel and overthrow their masters. This fear was exacerbated by the fact that Brown had specifically targeted Harpers Ferry, a federal arsenal that contained a large number of weapons.
- Violation of state sovereignty: Brown's raid was also seen as a violation of state sovereignty. Southerners believed that the federal government had no right to interfere with slavery in the South, and they viewed Brown's attack as an attempt to do just that. This sentiment was particularly strong in Virginia, where Harpers Ferry was located.
- Economic impact: Brown's raid also had a significant economic impact on the South. The destruction of the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry disrupted trade and commerce, and it also led to increased military spending by the Southern states. This put a strain on the Southern economy, which was already struggling to compete with the North.
In addition to these specific reasons, Southerners were also generally angry about the growing abolitionist movement in the North. They felt that abolitionists were unfairly attacking their way of life, and they saw Brown's raid as a culmination of this trend.
As a result of Brown's raid, tensions between the North and South increased dramatically. The raid helped to push the country closer to the Civil War, which began just two years later.