John Brown was an abolitionist radical. Known to be quick to violence, John Brown was willing to kill or be killed over his hatred for slavery. Brown planned to take over a military arsenal at Harper's Ferry, Virginia and lead an armed slave revolt against plantation owners. He and his five sons made there way to the arsenal, but there was only one problem. No slaves came. This mission resulted in the death of his five sons and the imprisonment of John Brown. He was the most controversial character of this time, a terrorist to the south, and a martyr to the north.