Note: On 16 October 1859, John Brown, with 22 men, attacked the United States federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry. He hoped Southern slaves would join in a revolt. John Brown was wounded in the attack and captured on 18 October. He was tried without delay, convicted, and hung on 2 December 1859.
Thoreau first delivered this work as a speech in Concord on 30 October 1859. It was later published in February of 1860.
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