Its not the same John Brown as OTL as he was born after the PoD. However TTL John Brown is still the son of Owen Brown, the father of the OTL John Brown. TTL John Brown is not quite the same person although he is still a fervent abolitionist and is a prominent member of the Brotherhood in New York City.
Sojourner's Church, also known as the First Liberationist Church, was a Protestant Christian denomination prominent in the eastern United States during the 19th century. It was most famously known for its radical opposition to slavery. The denomination grew out of the participation of the New England churches in the anti-slavery movement. Among its founders was Richard W. Beecher, a preacher and abolitionist, whose pen name was used to name the church.
Much of the theology of Sojourner's Church corresponded to common Protestant Christian teachings, such as the Trinity and the infallibility of Scripture. Distinctive teachings include the inner Light of God and the doctrine of societal judgement. Influenced by Quaker belief of Christ's light shining inside each person, it formed the basis of their anti-slavery views and abolitionist activities. Furthermore, they held that if they were able, God judged each person for their contribution to fixing societal ills and blessed the ones that did.
The church was also known for its significant involvement in politics, philanthropic work, and its advocacy of conservative principles and lifestyle. By the 1860s, their believers had significant influence over the Northern Clique and the majority of state governments, except New York, which was economically tied to to the Greater South. Local congregations were heavily involved with charity work and other philanthropic causes in their town which helped garner support and new members.
Originally beginning as a single church in New Haven, Connecticut in 1833, it grew rapidly throughout the 1840s as slavery became a national issue. It would become the leading force behind the American anti-slavery movement, helping to found and support the Brotherhood which assisted fugitive slaves escape to the Canadas. At first a proponent of nonviolent action, suppression by the Republican government led to its radicalization and a rapid increase in new members. By the outbreak of the Second Civil War, it is estimated that up to 12% of the population in the Greater North were members.
Oh yeah definitely, the abolitionists have allies across the American Republics, so everything is going to hell. Yeah that is true, especially since the South has the federal government on their side, although New York is very very split on this issue.
To explain, the slavers control is very very tenuous and they always had to deal with active resistance. It helps that everyone in the north basically despises the Slaver's armies and the fact said slavers armies largely consist of militias which aren't the best at fighting deep in enemy territory. Still its an complete slogfest and many cities in the north took very bad hits. I think you can look at Philadelphia to see the worst of it.
The thing is that from here on out things get into a stalemate very quickly. The slavers can't push north because they depend on miltias to fight and the population of the north actively opposes them which is why they were basically swept from the region.
Oh my that's extremely bloody for the times. I imagine the civilian destruction will have consequences too. With the destruction, Boston is the biggest city in the north, right?
Hmm given its not being listed as being destroyed I'd would have to say Brooklyn(it was a independent city until 1898) followed in order by Chicago, St. Louis, Baltimore, Boston, Cincinnati and New Orleans likely would be the most populated american cities that haven't been reduced to ruin at this point.
Oh my that's extremely bloody for the times. I imagine the civilian destruction will have consequences too. With the destruction, Boston is the biggest city in the north, right?
Needless to say house to house urban warfare in the 19th century is nasty. It's even worse because "irregulars" aka common citizens that picked up a gun or sword, joined the fighting which really makes it hard to tell between combatants and noncombatants. Since anyone caught with a weapon was harshly punished aka put in prison, this usually hurt innocent civilians as much as the irregulars did.
Hmm given its not being listed as being destroyed I'd would have to say Brooklyn(it was a independent city until 1898) followed in order by Chicago, St. Louis, Baltimore, Boston, Cincinnati and New Orleans likely would be the most populated american cities that haven't been reduced to ruin at this point.
Although Brooklyn saw some fighting New York City proper got the worst of it. The history of settlements would be different in AMIU though so the ordering would be Brooklyn, Harrisonburg, St. Louis (which is an independent settlement effectively), Boston, Cincinnati, New Orleans and Baltimore.
