The "Secret Six"

Paper Summary:

The paper looks at Otto J. Scott's "The Secret Six: John Brown and the Abolitionist Movement" where Scott explores the origin, meaning and consequence of modern terrorism through a discussion of the radicalism of the early abolitionist movement. The paper asserts that Scott's personal agenda is evident throughout the book, and he therefore can not be established as a credible author. The paper concludes, however, that in general he would recommend this book for its entertaining and disturbing analysis into the minds of John Brown and his six co-conspirators.

From the Paper:

"Scott is concerned in this book with the radicalism of the early abolitionist movement; he explores the origin, meaning and consequence of modern terrorism. The book follows the story of the "Secret Six" the six wealth individuals who funded and encouraged Brown in his murders and plans for revolution. These six individuals were all well respected members of society, Thomas Higginson, Samuel Howe, Theodore Parker, Gerrit Smith, Franklin Sanborn and George Luther Stearns. These individuals not only encouraged Brown to commit his acts but actively collected money to fun him. They were able to raise over a period of three years, enough money for Brown to assemble a strong artillery staple needed for his revolution."

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