under what circumstances is violence justified in pursuing the
liberation of a people? John Brown and Nat Turner are two of
American history's most controversial figures. Both resorted to
violent measures to challenge the institution of slavery, failed in
their immediate objectives and were tried and executed for their
"crimes" by the state of Virginia. Placing the actions of Turner
and Brown in their immediate historical context -- in the early
antebellum south, within the fully mature institution of slavery
and, in the case of Brown, within the explosive sectional conflict
surrounding expansion of the peculiar institution during the 1850s
-- I want you to respond to the following assertion as fully as you
can:
" While others temporized, postured and moralized, Nat Turner and
John Brown righteously took up the rifle to advance the liberation
of a people. Their resort to armed struggle was as legitimate as
that undertaken by the men who made the American
Revolution."
Topic: US history
Normally, when a nation or large amount of people gather and fight the injustice caused by another oppressor, it’s justified as a great revolution. But, when the same thing is done by a minority group or a powerless group, it’s considered as a rebellion or mutiny. So, the number, the social status and the back-up resources would determine whether an armed revolution is justified or not. When the voices are not heard, when the oppression questions one mere survival, people would fight the oppression hard and demand their rights. This is what happened with Nat Turner and John Brown who fought against the oppression of the majority white on the minority African Americans and against the institution of slavery. Today, they are greatly respected because they have been instrumental in changing the mindsets of the oppressors. So, in my opinion, when one’s mere survival is questioned by the unjust laws and policies of the majority, people can take up arms and fight.
Thank you for your question. Please rate if you like the answer.
under what circumstances is violence justified in pursuing the liberation of a people? John Brown and...