North America 1859: Raid on Harpers Ferry
 
	
	18 October 1859
											
												18 Oct 1859
											
										
										
									
										
										
										
									
										
										
										
									
										
										
										
									
										
										
										
									
										
										
										
									
										
										
										
									
										
										
										
									
										
											Raid on Harpers Ferry
						
							
								2 Oct 1843 Oregon Dispute
							
						
							
								29 Dec 1845 Annexation of Texas
							
						
							
								13 May 1846 Outbreak of the Mexican–American War
							
						
							
								15 Jun 1846 Oregon Treaty
							
						
							
								18 Aug 1846 Conquest of California & New Mexico
							
						
							
								19 Nov 1846 Northern Mexican Theater
							
						
							
								9 Mar 1847 Siege of Veracruz
							
						
							
								14 Sep 1847 Battle for Mexico City
							
						
							
								2 Feb 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
							
						
							
								11 Feb 1849 California Gold Rush
							
						
							
								9 Sep 1850 Compromise of 1850
							
						
							
								14 Oct 1852 Opening up the West
							
						
							
								30 Dec 1853 Gadsden Purchase
							
						
							
								6 Dec 1855 Bleeding Kansas
							
						
							
								2 Apr 1857 Filibuster War
							
						
							
								29 Sep 1858 Mexican Reform War
							
						
							
								18 Oct 1859 Raid on Harpers Ferry
							
						
					
				The 1850s conflict in the US over slavery was not limited to Kansas. In 1859, the abolitionist John Brown and his followers attempted to start a slave revolt in Virginia by seizing the arsenal at Harpers Ferry. Although he was defeated, Brown's raid and his subsequent execution further polarized the nation.