What do you think?
Rate this book
John Brown’s Trial
Mixing idealism with violence, abolitionist John Brown cut a wide swath across the United States before winding up in Virginia, where he led an attack on the U.S. armory and arsenal at Harpers Ferry. Supported by a “provisional army” of 21 men, Brown hoped to rouse the slaves in Virginia to rebellion. But he was quickly captured and, after a short but stormy trial, hanged on December 2, 1859.
Brian McGinty provides the first comprehensive account of the trial, which raised important questions about jurisdiction, judicial fairness, and the nature of treason under the American constitutional system. After the jury returned its guilty verdict, an appeal was quickly disposed of, and the governor of Virginia refused to grant clemency. Brown met his death not as an enemy of the American people but as an enemy of Southern slaveholders.
Historians have long credited the Harpers Ferry raid with rousing the country to a fever pitch of sectionalism and accelerating the onset of the Civil War. McGinty sees Brown’s trial, rather than his raid, as the real turning point in the struggle between North and South. If Brown had been killed in Harpers Ferry (as he nearly was), or condemned to death in a summary court-martial, his raid would have had little effect. Because he survived to stand trial before a Virginia judge and jury, and argue the case against slavery with an eloquence that reverberated around the world, he became a symbol of the struggle to abolish slavery and a martyr to the cause of freedom.
Brian McGinty provides the first comprehensive account of the trial, which raised important questions about jurisdiction, judicial fairness, and the nature of treason under the American constitutional system. After the jury returned its guilty verdict, an appeal was quickly disposed of, and the governor of Virginia refused to grant clemency. Brown met his death not as an enemy of the American people but as an enemy of Southern slaveholders.
Historians have long credited the Harpers Ferry raid with rousing the country to a fever pitch of sectionalism and accelerating the onset of the Civil War. McGinty sees Brown’s trial, rather than his raid, as the real turning point in the struggle between North and South. If Brown had been killed in Harpers Ferry (as he nearly was), or condemned to death in a summary court-martial, his raid would have had little effect. Because he survived to stand trial before a Virginia judge and jury, and argue the case against slavery with an eloquence that reverberated around the world, he became a symbol of the struggle to abolish slavery and a martyr to the cause of freedom.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 12, 2010
This book serves a great purpose, filling in a hole in the literature surrounding John Brown. The detailed look at his trial in Virginia is more in-depth in this book than it has anywhere else.
The arguments of the book don't really seem to go anywhere, though. First, McGinty proposes that John Brown's trial is more important than his actual raid on Harper's Ferry in moving the country toward the Civil War. I was intrigued by this at first glance, but upon finishing the book, I think John Brown's acceptance of martyrdom after his conviction, his execution, and how it was used by those who remained is the most important part.
Second, he also goes into whether or not the trial was fair (this is the focal point of his conclusion, going on for about 15 pages), but ends with actually saying 'it doesn't matter.' If it doesn't matter, why frame an argument around it?
This was a good work, a necessary one, but I would only recommend it to those with an extreme interest in the subject matter and not to the casual reader.
The arguments of the book don't really seem to go anywhere, though. First, McGinty proposes that John Brown's trial is more important than his actual raid on Harper's Ferry in moving the country toward the Civil War. I was intrigued by this at first glance, but upon finishing the book, I think John Brown's acceptance of martyrdom after his conviction, his execution, and how it was used by those who remained is the most important part.
Second, he also goes into whether or not the trial was fair (this is the focal point of his conclusion, going on for about 15 pages), but ends with actually saying 'it doesn't matter.' If it doesn't matter, why frame an argument around it?
This was a good work, a necessary one, but I would only recommend it to those with an extreme interest in the subject matter and not to the casual reader.
June 7, 2019
My 400th Goodreads book- John Brown's Trial starts very strong. As you get deeper into the legal issues (jurisdiction, treason, etc.) the narrative becomes bogged down. Perhaps that is inevitable but a writer with more flair may have made those issues more animated. John Brown was NOT dull. But large segments of this book are.
July 6, 2015
This is a fascinating study of "the first modern courtroom event and milestone . . . of journalism." The trial elevated John Brown's raid from criminal violence to purposeful sacrifice. Brown's words were more powerful than his pistols and pikes.
The honor code of the South resulted in a Fair Trial--which is neither guaranteed nor defined by the Constitution, yet it is a basic value of America's concept of liberty.
Though Southerners disagreed with Brown's principles, they respected his courage and sincerity. With Brown's appeal to a Higher Law, many felt Virginia's guilt was greater than Brown's.
According to record, Brown was the first in a criminal trial in America to make an unsworn statement in open court. Emerson ranked it with the Gettysburg Address as "the two best specimens of eloquence." Brown was seen as a man of conviction and principle and his statement was widely published, inspiring the enemies of slavery.
The high drama of the trial reflected the troubling issue of the time. Northerners' view of Brown as a Saint cut a wedge between the Southern view of him as a meddling outlaw. This wedge fanned secession fever. Brown's "reckless behavior and elegant argument" intensified feelings on both sides.
Abolitionists were inspired by his eloquence and self-sacrifice. Slaveholders grudgingly admired his courage. An interesting comment regarding this point comes from Adam Gopnik's Angels and Ages (p. 56-57): "The really astonishing thing about Brown is the respect his mad act of terrorism earned from his enemies. They were impressed by his grasp of the code of honor . . . and they honored him accordingly. . . . Brown appealed to a natural code of honor rather than procedural law." Brown used the southern honor code to push a Northern agenda.
The honor code of the South resulted in a Fair Trial--which is neither guaranteed nor defined by the Constitution, yet it is a basic value of America's concept of liberty.
Though Southerners disagreed with Brown's principles, they respected his courage and sincerity. With Brown's appeal to a Higher Law, many felt Virginia's guilt was greater than Brown's.
According to record, Brown was the first in a criminal trial in America to make an unsworn statement in open court. Emerson ranked it with the Gettysburg Address as "the two best specimens of eloquence." Brown was seen as a man of conviction and principle and his statement was widely published, inspiring the enemies of slavery.
The high drama of the trial reflected the troubling issue of the time. Northerners' view of Brown as a Saint cut a wedge between the Southern view of him as a meddling outlaw. This wedge fanned secession fever. Brown's "reckless behavior and elegant argument" intensified feelings on both sides.
Abolitionists were inspired by his eloquence and self-sacrifice. Slaveholders grudgingly admired his courage. An interesting comment regarding this point comes from Adam Gopnik's Angels and Ages (p. 56-57): "The really astonishing thing about Brown is the respect his mad act of terrorism earned from his enemies. They were impressed by his grasp of the code of honor . . . and they honored him accordingly. . . . Brown appealed to a natural code of honor rather than procedural law." Brown used the southern honor code to push a Northern agenda.
November 13, 2014
The story was fairly concise. It included a brief account of the events that took place so the book was well-edited. The book did not get bogged down and moved along quickly. I thought a little more could have been written about the others put on trial afterwards including Aaron Stevens.
As another reviewer said, the author's question about whether the trial was fair was a meaningless exercise by finally admitting it didn't really matter. No, the trial was not fair. What passed for a "fair trial" in those days leaves a stain on Virginia still today.
If you are interested in the life of John Brown, you may enjoy parts of this book.
As another reviewer said, the author's question about whether the trial was fair was a meaningless exercise by finally admitting it didn't really matter. No, the trial was not fair. What passed for a "fair trial" in those days leaves a stain on Virginia still today.
If you are interested in the life of John Brown, you may enjoy parts of this book.
May 20, 2010
From the Introduction by the author:
If importance is measured by consequences, John Brown's trial was arguably the most important criminal trial in the history of the United States, for it was intimately related to the war that followed so quickly, and it was in large measure responsible for the fact slavery died during the war.
I am now more interested in reading about earlier events in John Brown's life, such as those that occurred in Kansas.
If importance is measured by consequences, John Brown's trial was arguably the most important criminal trial in the history of the United States, for it was intimately related to the war that followed so quickly, and it was in large measure responsible for the fact slavery died during the war.
I am now more interested in reading about earlier events in John Brown's life, such as those that occurred in Kansas.
Want to Read
October 21, 2009Have not read this book yet, but it's written by my mom's cousin who lives in Scottsdale and his talk on CSPAN was very interesting. I'm not usually a history buff but it intrigued me especially to hear Brian's excitement in writing it and I look forward to reading his book.
December 10, 2009
John Brown is one of my heroes. I found the discussions of jurisdiction and the arguments for and against the various indictments fascinating. I also didn't realize that he was defended by people who had actually taken up arms against him and therefore deserved a mistrial.
October 19, 2013
The most cogent look at the events at Harper's Ferry that I've read yet. He doesn't spend much time on the implications of the raid (though the time he spends is excellently used) but instead takes us through the facts and then the trial.
No, the trial wasn't really fair. Suprise!
No, the trial wasn't really fair. Suprise!
February 2, 2016
Easy read with an interesting thesis, arguing that John Brown's trial was what really galvanized both sides in preparation for the Civil War. The last chapter is the strongest part of this argument, which could be more focused throughout.
June 30, 2011
John Brown led a raid on the army arsenal at Harper's Ferry prior to the Civil War and was captured by Marines led by Colonel Robert E. Lee. The government then tried Brown for treason.
Currently Reading
July 8, 2014Only got free sample so want to read whole book
February 20, 2019
Almost seems a contemporaneous account of the ordeal. Riveting.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews