English history assignment
The Kansas-Nebraska Act radicalized Americans, both pro- and anti-slavery. One of the key figures in the radicalization was a man named John Brown (discussed in your textbook).
Historian David Blight says John Brown was far more important dead than alive. What does this mean? Do you agree or disagree?
For this extra credit opportunity you will listen or watch Blight’s Yale lecture, Lecture 9: “John Brown’s Holy War: Terrorist or Heroic Revolutionary?” (Not all of the lecture is about Brown, but you must listen to the whole lecture to understand the context in which he discussing Brown–also, Blight is an *amazing* lecturer.)
Write a 2-3 page essay answering the above prompt (Blight says John Brown was far more important dead than alive. What does this mean? Do you agree or disagree?). Include a title and an argument. Opinion-driven is okay, but as always in this class, your claims must be rooted in historically and intellectually responsible claims, backed up by evidence.
