In my researching the newspapers of the time period, I decided to draw information from two sources of the time to formulate my argument. I choose The New York Times and Harper's Weekly. I found that the New York Times covered the event from the beginning until the end, with the end happing to be Brown's execution. Both papers gave you an intimate look at Brown, what happen during the raid, trial and described the scene of the execution.

In using reporting from the new York times and some supplemental reporting of Harper's Weekly on the raid at Harper's Ferry I will attempt to construct an overview of the events, the attitude towards brown, and the fragile nature of America political landscape. The New York Times did the most comprehensive reporting on the Raid through the execu

To understand the events and political landscape of the time, I think one would have to live through it. It is apparent that Brown had to pay with his life to slow the inevitable arrival of war. Although Browns execution only hasten the start of the war. Whether you look upon what Brown did as right or wrong, it is clear that he and his followers believed in there cause so much, they paid with there life's.

tion. Harper's Weekly reports were spread out due to it being a weekly publication. Harper's Weekly did however cover the events extensively when the trial first began. Both periodicals report the beginning of the raid with excited curiosity. The New York Times did maintain a neutral view and only reported factual information. Harper's Weekly used a more opinionated report, using quotes from people on scene to carry its message on the raid. With the majority of the opinionated reporting coming from people on the scene of the raid reaching the newspapers first it became apparent that this event was going to become a juggernaut for the north and south. Most of their views were that Brown was a mad man and that he and his followers were angels of death for the southern way of life. The southern fear of Brown as a threat to their way of life was for good reason. He had managed to recruit an army and march into to Harper's Ferry unchallenged and cause a national incident. Regardless of the outcome he had put his cause and ideals on the minds of all Americans. He also gained sympathy from abolitionists and moderate northerners. This made the South look upon him with contempt and realized they had to make an example of him, not only to be used as a deterrent for other abolitionists, but to show the north that Virginia would not waiver on her sovereign duties.

I read the initial reporting of the event in Harper's Weekly; I found the papers' reporting to be pro south in its view. The look upon Brown as a crazy insurrectionist and feared his intentions. The paper states in the beginning of the article that there was a great confusio

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Approximate Word count = 1387
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)