Harriet+Beecher+Stowe




 * Name:** Harriet Beecher Stowe
 * Age:** 39
 * Gender:** Female
 * Occupation:** Abolitionist/author
 * If in politics, what was your occupation prior to that:** None
 * Social Class:** Middle
 * Financial Situation:** Average. She supported the family by writing for local and religious periodicals.
 * Appearance:** Curly hair tied in a bun and dresses in old style
 * Location:** Cincinnati, Ohio
 * Daily Routine:** Support the underground railroad, keep fugitive slaves hidden in her house, writing novels.
 * Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits:** Firm belief in abolitionism, her husband and herself were very into education and religion, and Stowe family all shared the same idea regarding slavery issues.
 * Past/Individual and family history:** From an average family who was very influential during the 19th century supporting other abolitionists and abolitionist movement, and moved to different places very often.
 * Family:** Ten siblings. Daughter of religious leader Lyman Beecher and Roxanna Foote.
 * Social relations with others:** Close with her husband's family, Stowe family/other abolitionists (especially women)
 * Religion:** Congregationalist/Spiritualist
 * Education:** Hartford Female Academy
 * Conflicts/Enemies:** She was not liked by Southerners after //Uncle Tom's Cabin// was published.


 * Journal #1** - //The time frame is sometime during the year 1850. Consider all of the things that have taken place during the previous five years (Mexican-American War, Mexican Cession, Wilmot Proviso, Compromise of 1850, Fugitive Slave Act). You are free to write about any one (or more) of these things in your journal entry. Be sure to include your actions in response to one (or more) of these events.//

Journal Entry #1,

In the midst of the slavery crisis, the Fugitive Slave Act has been passed. This is outrageous! After all the compromises and the conflicts that went through to settle slavery dilemma, this new act gets passed. Do the compromises that the majority agreed upon not matter? Does it mean anything to people? It seems that the answer is “no” to me. Even more importantly, didn’t the Declaration of Independence firmly state that all men are created equal? Aren’t slaves people? Something must be done immediately to settle this ridiculous act before it gets out of hand.

The abolitionists including myself and other fellow Northerners are filled with rage by this act. I thought our nation regarded freedom and independence as something very valuable to everyone and not only for the whites. This act stating that slave catchers can easily catch run away slaves is almost intolerable! North is the free side where everyone is independent regardless of who you are. No one should have the right to ignore this right that the North possesses but rather, show respect towards it.

Our nation is becoming more corrupt over the matter of slavery. There have been cases where free blacks have been captured by slave catchers being forced to enter south and to work as a slave! Is this a morally right action? Doesn’t the South have any respect or considerations? It seems that nothing is more important than slavery in the South. Slaves do not earn anything at all in return except abuse and unfair treatments! Slaves should have the right to stand in court, be free to make their own decisions, and earn freedom!

The Fugitive Slave Act must be stopped before it gets out of hand. Slaves have done goods for the southerners by working under such unfavorable conditions and they’re not respected. There needs to be justice to finalize this matter and end it for good. Such sins must not repeat itself and with the Fugitive Slave Act, let’s hope that the Fugitive Slave Act has been a good lesson to us all not allowing something like this to ever happen again.

H.B. Stowe


 * Journal #2 -** //The year is now 1852. Continue your story as you began in Journal #1. For this journal entry and all subsequent entries, you must interact with at least two other characters in each journal entry. When you interact with another character, provide a hyperlink to that character's page in your journal entry.//

Journal Entry #2,

Slavery is still a major issue that faces America at the very moment. There seems to be no exact solution that can get through issues…There are many slaves out there who are suffering from the Fugitive Slave Act which should not be the case. It’s time for action to take place to end the tragedy of slavery.

This time, thinking about slavery, I have written a novel //Uncle Tom’s Cabin,// which includes my perspective, and morality as well as the harsh truth of slavery that everyone should understand. I have been inspired by Josiah Henson’s autobiography to write the novel myself because Henson was a black man who used to work in a large tobacco plantation who later ran away. Not just this, he helped fugitive slaves to their freedom. It appealed to me how we have multiple similar perspectives regarding the Fugitive Slave Act, and many others. There can be many things that we could agree upon and this told me that it was time that I take more serious action leading to the publication of //Uncle Tom’s Cabin//.

Mentioning Fugitive Slave Act, I have heard something about a slave named Dred Scott. He is an escaped slave who is stuck in very unfortunate circumstances along with the Fugitive Slave Act pressuring him. Also, I heard that he will be in the court to settle certain matters and I truly hope for the rule of justice to be made upon this fellow.

Lastly, there is Mr. Frederick Douglass who is a well known abolitionist with amazing achievements. His contribution and devotion to the abolitionist movement is truly grateful for the slavery might arrive to an end sooner. He is also the hope of many slaves who look up to him for guidance and reliance. He has done amazing work for the abolitionist society and I hope all will continue well.

H.B. Stowe

**Journal #3 -** //It's 1854... the Kansas-Nebraska Act has passed. Squatters are now moving into Kansas in an attempt to sway the vote. Continue your story...//

Journal Entry #3,

I am starting to wonder when I am going to see the end of the slavery or when I will see the end. Everything just keeps on getting worse day by day and seems like nothing can stop it. The slavery issue has come too far to take back and it just never stops like a never-ending virus. Meanwhile, the Kansas-Nebraska Act has passed causing another corruption among abolitionists and southerners.

Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise and Louisiana Purchase territory is not split into two parts. The settlers are now allowed to accept or reject slavery through the popular sovereignty system. Where did Wilmot Proviso go? Wilmot Proviso stated that slavery would be banned from lands won from Mexico. This just proves the failure of Wilmot Proviso increasing the tensions regarding slavery. Mr. David Wilmot has proposed this very document, but what will happen now?

Anyhow, it’s evident that the debate over slavery is getting more fierce. Various abolitionists like William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass are taking their own actions and I support them. I have also heard that Mr. Garrison is demanding that the Constitution be amended to give rights and freedom to black people and there has been some controversy with this among a few black abolitionists. I hope all goes well and no more issues will come our way…

H.B. Stowe

**Journal #4 -** //It's now 1856. Bleeding Kansas has just taken place and John Brown emerged on to the scene. Buchanan was just elected as the US President. Dred Scott is arrested and is about to be brought to trial. Continue your story.//

Journal Entry #4,

Well, nothing has changed much and things are going the same. No improvement, and simply nothing. There are other political actions that are taking place which I think won’t do any good, but all I can do is wait and see. Oh, and James Buchanan has been elected as the new president. I hope he will lead the country back to peace and resolve all the drastic issues that the country has been facing especially with the issue of slavery.

Currently, Dred Scott, the poor slave that I have mentioned earlier has been arrested and is waiting for a trial. I do hope that the trial will produce good results! He has his rights to argue after being in a free state with his owner! There is not a slave who is like this fellow in my opinion. I mean working for his owner while in a free state? He’s even willing to buy his freedom! There is no other slave like Dred Scott. He deserves his chance to speak out and to prove his case in the court by all means.

Along with the Dred Scott issue that’s going on around the nation, violence has been taking place. The Bleeding Kansas and John Brown seems to be the major violence that I’ve been hearing about. Brown has gone to Kansas to fight for slavery and to oppose the advancement of pro-slavery supporters. Also, he has received financial support of some sort from other people and he had a few supporters who followed him to Kansas. However, his action of violence failed when the military forces were used to stop him. I do appreciate the fact that he’s trying to stop the advancement of pro-slavery, but violence doesn’t seem to be the answer at a time like this. It’ll simply worsen the matters and do no good. At this time, we want to maintain peace and try to solve all the issue that we are facing now. Staying on peaceful terms would bring much more at times like this and I would love to see the good outcomes of many matters without violence and hope for good future to arrive soon.

H.B. Stowe


 * Journal #5: ** //should take place at the end of 1860. Finish your story!//

Journal Entry #5,

Never mind about the good future that I wish to see. It will be in much more years until I can see such sight! It is tragic to say something like this, but things are just out of my hands. It seems like President Lincoln may be the only hope. I wish he would provide a solution to all the issues that has been going on regarding slavery. I should have some faith and still keep some of my hopes up and pray for the best to happen.

Now that I think over, would it be possible for Lincoln to actually be the problem solver? South Carolina has seceded from the Union declaring that they cannot accept a president who did not support slavery! What does this mean? Oh, it is simply terrible! It’s unpredictable what else might happen. I just wish that other Southern states would remain and try to sort everything out and convince South Carolina to return. Let the peace be maintained not causing a violent war.

I believe I do not want to discuss further about the secession and other political issues anymore. It’s far too depressing and just makes me too terrible mention it. Anyways, I have been meeting with some abolitionists and have recently talked with Sojourner Truth. She really has some clever ideas and thoughts that I have not thought of before. Very wise, and calm woman she is. I admire her for such characteristics that she has. Of course, I wish for the best of her and pray that nothing harmful will reach her incase the slavery issue will expand to a greater scale for she deserves nothing of the kind.

So as to say, I will continue to keep my eyes open for any further updates or information that will arrive. Dearly, I hope that all will end with little controversy as possible and that peace to take its rightful place again in the Union. I shall go pray and discuss this matter with a few other people and my friends as well.

H.B. Stowe

__Sources:__ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet_Beecher_Stowe http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/stowe/StoweHB.html http://www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org/ http://www.lkwdpl.org/wihohio/stow-har.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncle_Tom%27s_Cabin