John Brown's Revenge-Arlana Brown(NHD PROJECT)
Arlana Brown
Senior Division
NHD 2012
Process Paper
Out of all the possible topics, I wanted to go for one that reflected my beliefs in the past. The National History Day theme this year was Revolution, Reaction, and Reform in History or the 3 R’s for short. I chose to focus on John Brown and his involvement in slavery. I discovered on my journey that John Brown was an abolitionist but did not just care about saving people he wanted to abolish slaves.
I started my research by searching the Internet for letters or just simple information on his background. What shocked me the most was that he stopped at nothing and he was white. He sacrificed his life to save others and I started to dig even more. For primary sources I searched through personal letters and pictures provided by archives from different magazines. The most interesting part I found out is he refused services before he died, he didn’t want anyone spreading the gospel to him he wanted to be punished for his beliefs in abolishing slavery.
This was my first National History Day project so I chose a documentary video. It allowed me to use my creative side in a formal presentation. In using the documentary video I chose to do more of an informative theme. I did a voice over and at the end I played a actual video clip of a movie showing John Brown going to his “death”. I put text in there occasionally and used actual historians. I chose the pictures in my video to show the reenactment of the trials and tribulations individuals’ back then went through. To edit my pictures I used Photoshop.
John Brown gave others the opportunity to finish a dream he had. He didn’t know the outcome his ideas would have but he did try. He never felt he was wrong even through his trial. He saw it as a chance to improve America and their way of being. Even though he wasn’t successful he shifted America’s attitude toward slavery. Thus, slavery did not end but for years to come it became better. The debate over John Brown’s intention is a very mixed feeling. Some feel like he was wrong for pursing slavery and knew the outcome of his actions but others feel like he started something and brought light to a very complex topic. John Brown’s Revolution highlights many aspects individuals did not know about.
Annotated Bibliography:
•John Brown on Harpers Ferry. N.d. Painting. Turboverbal, Philadelphia.
Annotation: I think this is important because this is a
painting or depiction of the fight between him and the generals. I think this
is important because I can actually show what I mean and not just talk about
it. We can see that John Brown is still standing with both sides are wounded.
•Brown, John. "John Brown to his Brother Frederick. John Brown to
his Brother Frederick. John Brown letter." West Virginia Division of
Culture And History. (1834): n. page. Web. 16 Feb. 2012.
<http://www.wvculture.org/history/jbexhibit/oldsouthbrownletter.html>.
Annotation:
I think this is important to my research because I can compare letters he sent
to other people and his brother. It can be a comparison on his style and if he
withhold information from certain people. I also like this source because this
letter can be
•"John Brown Papers held by the Jefferson County Circuit Clerk's
Office ." Folder 1 . Jefferson County: Web. 16 Feb. 2012. <http://www.wvculture.org/history/johnbrown/jbjeffcc.html>.
Annotation:I
think this is a good source because these papers are like his certificate and
different legal documents. I can use this in my documentary video to show the
comparison between now and then. And how the legal process is different from
similar cases to John Brown. I can compare human and inhuman things they do.
Secondary
Sources:
•Douglas, Fredrick. "Frederick Douglass on John Brown’s
Revolutionary Vision." Kasama 16 October 2009, n. pag. Web. 16 Feb.
2012.
<http://kasamaproject.org/2009/10/16/slave-leader-fred-on-john-brown/>.
Annotation: I think this is a great source because Fredrick
Douglass is talking about what he thinks of the whole thing. I am using this
because John Brown actually wanted Fredrick Douglass to go with him and fight
but because of illness he reclined. I think this can be important to my
research because I can get his opinion and if illness was the true reason he
didn’t go.
•Flounders, Sara. "Cuba, Haiti and John Brown – To Rebel Is
Justified." [New York, NY] n.d., n. pag. Web. 16 Feb. 2012.
<http://www.iacenter.org/haiti/john-brown.htm>.
Annotation:I
think this is a great source also because it is comparing some of the biggest
revolutions in the world with John Brown. They are saying why is a street named
after John Brown who created so much trouble. I can get very many opinions of
John Brown and contrast and compare the effects of his actions. How he has
changed America in an American eye.
•Faust, Patricia. "John Brown." Civil War Home. n. page.
Web. 16 Feb. 2012. <http://www.civilwarhome.com/johnbrownbio.htm>.
Annotation: I think this is a good source because this
basically a little biography of him. I am seeing a lot of different things
about him. Some people facts about him differ so I can find out why and get a
lot of information about him through this.
•Brown, John. "John Brown Speech." John Brown's
Speech to the Court at his Trial. Charles Town, Virginia, Virginia . November
2, 1859. Speech.
I am using this information because this site goes and uses a
passage of what John Brown actually said at his trial. It’s essential because
of the major event that led to his death. I think this essential because it can
help me and I can find some videos or a voice with him at his trial would be
great. In my presentation I incorporate the voice so it sound more real.
•Brown, John. "John Brown letters for the years
1833 thru 1859." Family Tales. Springfield, Massachusetts . 16th Jan.,
1848.. Reading.
I am using this information because this is actual diaries
from John Brown. This letter I will use because it concludes and leads up to
his raid on Harper’s Ferry. This is essential because his thoughts are present
in this diary.
•Brown, John. Personal Interview. 10.18.1859.
I am using this information because this is an interview at
jail with John Brown and a senator. The senator ask him all these questions on
how he feels. I think this is essential because this gets his feelings inside
the jail. He always goes and says he doesn’t believe that he has been treated
unfairly which is very well in this case. He’s at peace for the decisions.
•Life and Letters of John Brown; Liberator of Kansas, and
Martyr of Virginia, 1885, F. B. Sanborn.
I am using this information because this is another diary
of John Brown. This time he decides to write to someone different who he just
basically tells them how he is doing. Which I can use this at a different time
to depict two different things.
• Virginia State of. John Brown. 1859. Photograph. Library of
Virginia, Virginia.
I am using this information because this a photograph of John
Brown in court. This is his actual court date and I think this is essential
because I know how the court room looked and can focus on that surrounding and
how it’s suppose to be incorporated.
•Brown, John. "John Brown Speech." John
Brown's Speech to the Court at his Trial. Charles Town, Virginia, Virginia .
November 2, 1859. Speech.
-I am using this information because this site goes and uses
a passage of what John Brown actually said at his trial. It’s essential because
of the major event that led to his death. I think this essential because it can
help me and I can find some videos or a voice with him at his trial would be
great. In my presentation I incorporate the voice so it sound more real.
•Linder, Douglas. " The Trial of John Brown: A Commentary."
2005. Lecture.
-I am using this information because this is a commentary of
everything that went on that day. This essential because it’s a historian who
study this in depth and gave everything he knew about it. I can use this to
find out thoughts of the jury and the judge.
•Brown, John. "John Brown's Speech to the
Court at his Trial." John Brown's Other Statements at his Trial. Virginia.
1859. Speech.
-I am using this information because the speech he uses has key
points. I can point this out in the presentation because it shows the different
views and how he feels his self. I think this is important because it also
other quotes from him. “I feel entirely satisfied with the treatment I
have received on my trial.” I think he played the devil advocate which is in
good because it’s not so bias.
•"Virginia v. John Brown." Wikipedia. Wikipedia, n.d.
Web. 5 Jan 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_v._John_Brown>.
-I am using this information because this is the trial that day.
It goes in to depth of the state of Virgina vs. him and it gives information of
really happened. I could incorporate this because I can factor in the tone of
the court room if it was more so they were being mad at him for choosing to
live that way..in way of trying to help others and wanting everyone to have
equal rights.
•Brown, John. "The Trial of John Brown." The Trial of John
Brown. NEW YORK. Charlestown, Virginia. 1859. Lecture.
-I am using this information because this is also another copy of
the lecture. It also shows a depiction of a photo of John Brown at his
execution being hanged. I need this information because the whole way his body
structure is can play a big part of how I depict it in my presentation.
•The Hanging ." PBS.
Web. 5 Jan 2012.
<http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/brown/peopleevents/pande10.html>.
-I am using this information because this is in depth more of the
execution. What they did to him? What time he was executed because I want to do
a movie or perform it live it goes in to the costumes and the lighting of every
scene.
•, and Victor Hugo. The Hanging of John Brown. 1860. Photograph.
n.p.
-I am using this information because this is another picture of
him being hanged from a different view. Another reason I need this is because
of the body structure and his face. In this source I would merely focus on the
people around him rather then focusing on him.
•Aftermath." Web. 5 Jan 2012.
<http://www.vahistorical.org/johnbrown/aftermath.htm>.
-I am using this information to end my presentation. This is the
aftermath of the execution which I will focus on every one's reactions. I will
be the devil’s advocate and get one good review and one bad review. All to
conclude the presentation.
•, and Horace Pippin. John Brown Going to His Hanging. 1942.
Photograph. PAFA, Philadelphia.
-I am using this photograph to be the near ending part of the
presentation. In this photograph John Brown is being carried to his hanging. I
will depict it a little differently though but while going to his execution I
can zoom in on people’s reaction. In the picture its just every standing around
while about 4-5 guys carry him.
•John Brown Hanging. 1859. Painting. n.p.
-This is another depiction of John Brown Hanging a painting. This
can be used because everyone has a different view on how he was hung and how it
happened. But these pictures seem to be so real because they include very much
detail. This picture can be used because the picture kind of zooms just on him.
Something that is different. The background is very important to. I can figure
out where he actually is.
-I wanted to use this source because it goes in depth of how
the raid happened. It also includes visual explanations. I want to use the
first paragraph to explore in depth on the history on why he wanted to raid
Harper’s Ferry and how many people were involved.
•, and First Last. John Brown Raid Photos. N.d. Photograph. West
Virginia Archives and History, Virginia.
-I wanted to use this source because this is an picture of
John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry in Virgina. I think this is essential
because I can compare pictures of the Harper before he invaded it and the
ruins(aftermath) of the effects.
•"John
Brown's Raid, 1859" EyeWitness to History, www.eyewitnesstohistory.com
-I
wanted to use this source because this is also an eye witness account of what happened.
This includes quotes from John Brown from that day. I think it will be
essential because in my presentation while presenting I can make these points
very big and important.
•John Brown." Harpers Ferry. Web. 6 Jan 2012.
<http://www.nps.gov/hafe/historyculture/john-brown.htm>.
-I wanted to use this source because it gives a little more
information of the situation. I use this because it goes in to what he was
charged with him due to the crimes he committed. I think this is essential
because I need to use something and the presentation would be way better if I
knew on how to incorporate his crimes and how it would flow together.
•"Raiders." Harpers Ferry. Web. 6 Jan 2012.
<https://docs.google.com/a/scienceleadership.org/viewer?url=http://www.nps.gov/hafe/historyculture/upload/Raiders03-2.pdf>.
-I wanted to use this source because this is the perfect
thing to incorporate on who also was involved in the raid with John Brown.
Without them he wouldn’t even be able to get that far with the crime. I
think it’s essential because I can find some documents and see if they were
convicted of any crimes with John Brown.
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