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Harpers Ferry Raid
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Illustration of John Brown and his followers inside the engine house at Harpers Ferry armory, some wounded, as armed men prepare for the U.S. Marines to break through the door in 1859.
The history of John Brown's abolitionist uprising
Locator map highlighting Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in northeastern West Virginia, near the borders with Maryland and Virginia. The map shows surrounding states including Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and the proximity to Washington, D.C., with an inset globe indicating the park's location in the eastern United States. Storming Harpers Ferry The armory's fire engine and guard house The capture of John Brown
The tumultuous presidency of James Buchanan
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54th Massachusetts Regiment. "Storming Fort Wagner," by Kurz & Allison, c. 1890. Depicts the assault on the S.C. fort on 7/18/1863. American Civil War, 54th Regiment Massachusetts Infantry, 1st all African-American regiment, black soldiers, black history
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Harpers Ferry Raid: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

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  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

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Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Modified link of Web site: American Battlefield Trust - Harpers Ferry. Oct 01, 2026
Add new Web site: American Battlefield Trust - Harpers Ferry. Aug 21, 2026
Add new Web site: City University of New York - Investigating U.S. History - John Brown's 1859 Harpers Ferry Raid (PDF). Jun 12, 2026
Added mention of Harriet Tubman's role and the specific building in the armory; revised media. Apr 20, 2026
Add new Web site: Teach Democracy - “We Came to Free the Slaves”: John Brown on Trial. Dec 26, 2025
Add new Web site: Maryland State Archives - “In Readiness To Do Every Duty Assigned" - Introduction. Nov 17, 2025
Anniversary information added. Oct 09, 2025
Add new Web site: World History Encyclopedia - John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry: How Mistakes Made a Martyr. Sep 27, 2025
Add new Web site: Teaching American History - John Brown�s Raid on Harpers Ferry. Apr 10, 2025
Add new Web site: National Park Service History Electronic Library and Archive - Harpers Ferry and the Story of John Brown (PDF). Mar 02, 2025
Add new Web site: CiteSeerX - Seeming Disaster, Glorious Success: John Brown?s Raid on Harpers Ferry (PDF). Jan 02, 2025
Cross-reference added to Henry David Thoreau's speech “A Plea for Captain John Brown.” Nov 11, 2024
Add new Web site: Digital History - John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry. Sep 30, 2024
Add new Web site: National Park Service - John Brown's Raid. Apr 19, 2024
Add new Web site: UShistory.org - John Brown's Raid. Mar 08, 2024
Add new Web site: American History Central - John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry. Nov 28, 2023
Add new Web site: NPR - The Harpers Ferry 'Rising' That Hastened Civil War. Apr 21, 2023
Add new Web site: Encyclopedia Virginia - Harpers Ferry during the Civil War. Jan 09, 2023
Article revised and updated. Aug 07, 2019
Media added. May 02, 2019
Corrected display issue. Oct 12, 2018
Media added. Jul 21, 2016
Add new Web site: HistoryNet - Raid on Harpers Ferry. Jul 15, 2016
Add new Web site: Civil War Trust - Ten Facts about Harpers Ferry. Jul 15, 2016
Add new Web site: Spartacus Educational - Harper's Ferry. Feb 07, 2012
Add new Web site: Kansapedia - Kansas Historical Society - Harpers Ferry Revolver. Feb 07, 2012
Add new Web site: United States History - Harper's Ferry. Feb 07, 2012
New article added. May 27, 2011
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