Question

Americans have sometimes resorted to using extralegal means to promote change. Assess the extent to which such measures were effective by analyzing EACH of the following: Boston Tea Party, John Brown’s raid at Harper’s Ferry.

Answer 1

The Boston Tea Party effectively united colonies against British rule and propelled the American Revolution. John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry escalated tensions leading to the Civil War and solidified his legacy as an abolitionist martyr. Both were acts of civil disobedience with significant historical outcomes.

Step-by-step explanation:

Effectiveness of Extralegal Measures: Boston Tea Party and Harper's Ferry Raid

Civil disobedience has played a significant role in American history, often being utilized when legal avenues for change were exhausted or ineffective. Notably, the Boston Tea Party and John Brown's raid at Harper's Ferry were extralegal acts that sought to challenge prevailing authority and galvanize public opinion.

The Boston Tea Party was a milestone that directly contributed to the outbreak of the American Revolution. It was an act of protest against the Tea Act, which colonists opposed as taxation without representation. The destruction of the tea led to the British enactment of the Intolerable Acts, which aimed to punish Massachusetts and restore order. However, these measures further united the colonies and eventually led to the American Revolution. Hence, the Boston Tea Party was effective in rallying collective colonial resistance to British rule.

In contrast, John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry aimed to initiate an armed slave uprising and confront the institution of slavery. While the raid itself was tactically unsuccessful and Brown was captured and executed, its symbolic value was immense. It exacerbated sectional tensions between the North and South and was a precursor to the Civil War. In the North, Brown was often heralded as a martyr for the abolitionist cause, signaling a shift towards a more militant approach to ending slavery.

In conclusion, both the Boston Tea Party and John Brown's raid were critical in shaping American history. These actions, while outside the bounds of law, had profound impacts on public sentiment and policy, and ultimately on the course of the nation's development.

Answer 2

This is especially prominent now, in relation to the riots happening in Baltimore. These extralegal tactics have had a mixed history of success in actually solving the problem at hand, although many of them, including the Boston Tea Party, brought awareness to the issue and rallied people around a common cause.