It was, but it kicked off the Civil War just a few years later. In terms of making people get off their asses and do the right thing* it's solidly in first place so far.
*Only after much kicking, screaming, denial, and eventual failure to deliver fully on the true end of slavery in the US.
It 100% would've happened anyway, but Harper's Ferry was the fire under the southern aristocracy's ass to go through with it because suddenly there was a very real example of a northerner actively instigating mass slave rebellions to destroy their way of life. Had it not happened, the civil war might not have occurred for another decade or two instead of within five years.
It was, but it kicked off the Civil War just a few years later. In terms of making people get off their asses and do the right thing* it's solidly in first place so far.
*Only after much kicking, screaming, denial, and eventual failure to deliver fully on the true end of slavery in the US.
Yeah I think saying he kicked off the civil war is a huge reach
It happened because of economics not because the north grew a conscience or feared imminent uprising
also slavery still isn't truly ended, let alone legally ended
i mean, I think the civil war was gonna happen anyway right? isn't this a bit great man ish?
It 100% would've happened anyway, but Harper's Ferry was the fire under the southern aristocracy's ass to go through with it because suddenly there was a very real example of a northerner actively instigating mass slave rebellions to destroy their way of life. Had it not happened, the civil war might not have occurred for another decade or two instead of within five years.
100%. JB was an absolute sick bloke but Harper’s ferry was a huge L