Which historical event is John Brown associated with?

John Brown is primarily associated with the Raid on Harpers Ferry, an event that took place in October 1859. His goal was to initiate an armed slave revolt by taking over a United States armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia). Brown believed that seizing the armory would provide the weapons needed to support enslaved people in their quest for freedom. This event is significant in American history as it highlighted the stark divisions over slavery and contributed to the rising tensions that ultimately led to the Civil War.

The raid itself was a failure; Brown and his followers were captured after a standoff with U.S. Marines, and he was later tried and executed. However, his actions and his subsequent martyrdom became symbols in the abolitionist movement, galvanizing both support and opposition for the cause. In contrast, while the Civil War was a broader conflict that arose partly as a result of issues like those highlighted by Brown's actions, and although West Virginia's statehood can be tied to the circumstances surrounding the Civil War, those events are separate from Brown's specific actions at Harpers Ferry. The Great Depression, occurring much later in the 20th century, is unrelated to Brown's legacy.