Videos | Photos | Interactives

Replay
Next Video
More Videos

John Brown's Raid (1:38)

Although poorly planned and executed, John Brown's raid helped lead the nation into Civil War and made him one of the most controversial men of his day.

Watch Similar Videos

Videos (14)

  • John Brown's Raid
    John Brown's Raid

    Video Clip (1:38)

    Although poorly planned and executed, John Brown's raid helped lead the nation into Civil War and made him one of the most controversial men of his day.

    Video Clip (1:38)
  • Civil War's Greatest Myth
    Civil War's Greatest Myth

    Video Clip (2:41)

    What you think you know about the Civil War may not be the whole truth.

    Video Clip (2:41)
  • John Brown
    John Brown

    Video Clip (4:34)

    John Brown's failed attempt to loot the armory at Harper's Ferry sparks the beginning of abolition.

    Video Clip (4:34)
  • John Brown's Last Speech
    John Brown's Last Speech

    Video Clip (2:36)

    Actor David Strathairn performs abolitionist John Brown's final speech before his execution in 1859. Introduction by Viggo Mortensen.

    Video Clip (2:36)
  • Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad
    Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad

    Video Clip (3:07)

    Born a slave, Harriett Tubman became a famous "conductor" on the Underground Railroad, leading hundreds of slaves to freedom.

    Video Clip (3:07)
  • Frederick Douglass
    Frederick Douglass

    Video Clip (2:25)

    Find out how Frederick Douglass escaped from slavery to become one of the most respected and effective abolitionist leaders.

    Video Clip (2:25)
  • Abraham Lincoln's House Divided Speech
    Abraham Lincoln's House Divided Speech

    Video Clip (2:31)

    Abraham Lincoln's 1858 "House Divided" speech catapults him into the national consciousness with its bold moral assessment of the future of American slavery.

    Video Clip (2:31)
  • The Abolitionist Movement
    The Abolitionist Movement

    Video Clip (3:26)

    In the decades before the Civil War, anti-slavery sentiment sparked an abolitionist movement that employed risky and radical tactics to bring an end to slavery.

    Video Clip (3:26)
  • Legacy of the Civil War
    Legacy of the Civil War

    Video Clip (1:22)

    One hundred and fifty years after it began, the Civil War is still an important component of our national character.

    Video Clip (1:22)
  • Civil War Turning Point
    Civil War Turning Point

    Video Clip (3:08)

    Find out what event turned the tide of the Civil War.

    Video Clip (3:08)
  • America and the Civil War
    America and the Civil War

    Video Clip (4:04)

    Discover how the bloodiest war in American history transformed the face of the nation.

    Video Clip (4:04)
  • The Path to Civil War
    The Path to Civil War

    Video Clip (2:25)

    The election of Abraham Lincoln was a tipping point on the path to Civil War. In the wake of Southern secession, would the new president defend the U.S. forts in rebel territory?

    Video Clip (2:25)
  • Origins of Slavery in America
    Origins of Slavery in America

    Video Clip (3:01)

    In 1619, the Dutch introduced the first captured Africans to America, planting the seeds of a slavery system that evolved into a nightmare of abuse and cuelty that would ultimately divide the nation.

    Video Clip (3:01)
  • The Gettysburg Address: A New Declaration of Independence
    The Gettysburg Address: A New Declaration of Independence

    Video Clip (1:45)

    After the carnage at the Battle of Gettysburg, Lincoln reaffirms his commitment to achieving freedom for all.

    Video Clip (1:45)

Photo Galleries (5)

  • The Battle Over Slavery
    The Battle Over Slavery

    12 Photos

    Explore images of abolitionists, the Underground Railroad and much more as you learn about the battle over slavery in the United States.

    (12 Photos)
  • Virginia
    Virginia

    15 Photos

    View pictures from the state of Virginia on History. See images of famous locations that represent the state.

    (15 Photos)
  • West Virginia
    West Virginia

    11 Photos

    View pictures from the state of West Virginia on History. See images of famous locations that represent the state.

    (11 Photos)
  • The Slave Trade
    The Slave Trade

    10 Photos

    Explore images of the Atlantic and African Slave Trades, from holding cells in Africa to auction houses in Atlanta.

    (10 Photos)
  • Slave Life
    Slave Life

    9 Photos

    View pictures of North American slave life during the 18th and 19th centuries, featuring pictures of slaves themselves and the environments in which they worked and lived.

    (9 Photos)

Interactives (1)

Most Popular Videos on History.com

More videos

Newest Videos on History.com

More videos

Read More about Harpers Ferry

The West Virginia town of Harpers Ferry was the site of an 1859 raid that was a major precursor to the Civil War.

Go

Shop HISTORY

See More