Causes Of The Civil War, And The Events That Led To It - Book Report/Review Example

Causes Of The Civil War, And The Events That Led To It Part One The book is about John Brown, who late in the night of October 16, 1859, instigated a surprise raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Brown succeeded in freeing the slaves and also took some armory with them. He then made a vow to liberate every person who was in bondage in the United States. Brown carried out this famous raid on the federal armory so as to end slavery forever. The daring strike by Brown sparked a savage street fight as well as a counter attack by the United States Marines under the stewardship of Robert Lee1. The bloodshed and court drama that ensued shocked the entire nation and drove it towards a Civil War. The events in the book as authored by Horwitz happened between 1800 and the late 1860s. The events revolve around Harpers Ferry, (West) Virginia, which is at the confluence of River Shenandoah and River Potomac. McGlone asserts that it was here that President George Washington first made the decision to construct a federal armory, then in Virginia, the largest slaveholding state in the whole of the United States2. The author’s purpose of writing the book was to portray the social injustices that were perpetuated against the African-as well as the Native-Americans. Horwitz also demonstrates to the readers the events that led to the start of the Civil War. In this regard, the topics covered in the book include racial discrimination, social injustices, individualism, faith, the causes of the Civil War, and the dramatic events that led to nation’s greatest conflict. In relation to the arguments made by the author, Horwitz shows a morally upright abolitionist whose anti-slavery obsession was deeply rooted in his faith of accomplishing the destiny of his Puritan and Revolutionary forbears. The author also argues that John Brown was radicalized by his times that saw the rapid expansion of cotton and slavery, the ascension of abolitionism, and the emergence of crises including ‘Bleeding Kansas’ and Nat Turner’s Rebellion 3. Horwitz asserts that the action of one man together with a single event resulted to the nation taking a disaster-prone course where the transgressions of a guilty land could only be eliminated by bloodshed. The novelist also affirms that those who fought for human rights are viewed as martyrs, like, Brown and his independent army. Foner claims that Brown is portrayed as a genius who personal bravery galvanized the North while triggering fear in the South4. The author emphasizes that Brown was an anti-racist and viewed blacks as being equal to whites. The other argument by Horwitz is that the Southern politicians overreacted to each move initiated by the Northern politicians to oppose slavery. In the book, the governor of Virginia retorted that he will invade other states including Maryland, Ohio, and Pennsylavania with his troops in pursuit of future raiders5. Part Two The book’s strength is that Horwitz uses extensive historical research in writing the book making the narrative to be based on concise facts. The author relies on coded messages, court documents, diaries, letters, court documents, and newspaper to write about issues that sharply divided the country together with the fiery incidents that led to the Civil War. Midnight Rising also uses a vast amount of literature along with an oratory that is inspired by the words of Langston Hughes, Henry David Thoreau, Herman Melville, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Frederick Douglass to make the story captivating. This makes the book very useful for understanding the historical topic covered. The author also engages the reader in knowing the personality of Brown and his primary influences that made him to launch the attack. One aspect that sounds insightful to me is that of the African-Americans who to them Brown was a hero. We all respect his stand for equal rights6. And I think this is why Brown continues to fascinate us even today. The other thing that fascinates me is how Horwitz depicts John Brown as an incisive and harsh Calvinist with a soft spot for the oppressed as well as a murderous animus against the oppressors7. The book enables Horwitz to show audience the dark past of the United States. Brown makes us to remember the events of the 1850s where the southern states often imposed their will either politically or by force. However, the book’s weakness is that it makes John Brown be hated and loved at the same time making him a contested character for generations to come. The other weakness is that even though the book is well written, it lacks deep historical analysis. For example, the raid on Harpers Ferry is told uninterestingly. Lastly, the characterization of Lincoln and Brown develops an austere disparity with regard to their opinions8. Lincoln is quoted saying that war is not a solution to slavery while Brown considered war as a remedy to end slavery With the recent terrorist threats and attacks, in future studies, Brown’s attack together with his accomplices can be labeled as insurgents whose raid on the federal armory can viewed in the lens of the 9/11 attack by the Al-Qaeda insurgents. The terrorist group launched an attack on the American symbol of power. This has plunged the nation into war with the terrorists until today. In the same way, in future readers can relate the events in the book and the cause of the Civil War. In summary, Horwitz’s book is very captivating since it touches on various social issues making the reader to raise questions on the violence frequency as well as the moral quandary between the use of harmful acts and violence on humans in resolving conflicts by writing about real events in history. The readers are able to know the history behind Harpers Ferry raid and the Civil war. The novel also allows its readers to evaluate Brown’s actions on his abolitionism tactics. Works Cited Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty!: An American History. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2013. Horwitz, Tony. Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid That Sparked the Civil War . New York: Picador, 2012. McGlone Robert. John Brown's War Against Slavery, Cambridge:  Cambridge University Press, 2009. Read More