title: A Volcano Beneath the Snow: John Brown's War Against Slavery
author:  Albert Marrin 
description: Gr 7 UpMarrin offers a multisided look at the events and controversy surrounding John Brown's role in the banishment of slavery and his ongoing inspiration for current events. Chapters present the history of the "peculiar institution" (slavery) both here and abroad, details of Brown's life and family, his relationship with the abolitionists, his radicalization leading to the killings at Pottawatomie, Kansas, and, eventually, the uprising at Harper's Ferry and his trial and hanging. Brown's motivations, his religious fervor, charisma, and leadership skills are all examined. The politics of the time and key players both for and against slavery, secession and disunion are introduced. Brown's role in the beginning of the Civil War and the introduction of the Emancipation Proclamation are explained. The role of slaves and free blacks before, during and after the war is also included. The Civil Rights Movement and more recent radical events, including the attack on the World Trade Center, are looked at through the lens of John Brown's actions. From beginning to end, readers are asked to consider the philosophical questions Brown raised regarding "breaking a 'bad' law in democracy." The double-column text is rich with relevant excerpts from writings, speeches, songs, and poetry of the era. Well-chosen captioned and dated black-and-white illustrations include period photos, portraits, artwork, maps, fliers, and posters. Extensive notes and further-reading suggestions are included. This will be an excellent resource for U.S. history collections.Carol S. Surges, formerly at Longfellow Middle School, Wauwatosa, WI
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  # ALSO BY ALBERT MARRIN
  
  
  _Black Gold: The Story of Oil in Our Lives_
  
  
  _FDR and the American Crisis_
  
  
  _Flesh and Blood So Cheap: The Triangle Fire and Its Legacy_
  
  
  _Thomas Paine: Crusader for Liberty_
  
  
  _A Volcano Beneath the Snow: John Brown’s War Against Slavery_
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image of the title page](images/Marr_9780553509380_epub3_tp_r1.jpg)![image
  of the title page](images/Marr_9780553509380_epub3_tp_r1.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  THIS IS A BORZOI BOOK PUBLISHED BY ALFRED A. KNOPF
  
  
  Text copyright © 2016 by Albert Marrin
  
  
  Cover photographs copyright © by U.S. National Archives
  
  
  All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Alfred A. Knopf, an
  imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House
  LLC, New York.
  
  
  Knopf, Borzoi Books, and the colophon are registered trademarks of Penguin
  Random House LLC.
  
  
  For picture credits, see [this
  page](Marr_9780553509380_epub3_cre_r1.xhtml#cre).
  
  
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