Harriet Beecher Stowe

     Harriet Beecher Stowe was a writer during the Antebellum Era and in many of her writings she expressed her opinions about slavery and woman's rights. Her religious beliefs and opinions about abolition were shown in her writing as well. During the transcendentalism period, abolition of slavery and rights of women were two major issues, which Stowe influenced through her writing as an author. She promoted rights for women and their capabilities and was against slavery and talked about the injustices of it. Her writing gave her a voice and she used it to her advantage, because during this time women were not allowed to vote and did not have any authority at home or job wise. Stowe's writing about slavery and women's rights defiantly changed the transcendentalism time period.
    She was most famously known as the author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," which was a book based on Stowe's observations of the lives of African-Americans working as slaves. "I wrote what I did because as a woman, as a mother, I was oppressed and broken-hearted with the sorrows and injustice I saw, because as a Christian I felt the dishonor to Christianity - because as a lover of my county, I trembled at the coming day of wrath" (pbs.org). This quote is an example of how her faith influenced her opinion on slavery and why she was against it and effected by it. Her writing helped advance the abolitionist movement which worked towards ending slavery.
     Not only did she focus on the issue of slavery in "Uncle Tom's Cabin," but also brought up the importance of the role of a mother. This tied in with her strong beliefs that women deserved more rights during this time period and how mothers impacted the lives of those around them. "If the mothers of the free states had all felt as they should, in times past, the sons of the free states would not have been the holders, and proverbially, the hardest masters of slaves; the sons of the free states would not have connived at the extension of slavery (472)" (womanwriters.net). Her beliefs in women's rights are evident. She used her writing to speak her opinion so that maybe people's view on women would change, and then one day women would be given the rights that they deserved.

   

Dolley Madison

 

  Dolley Madison was the husband of President James Madison, and she is remembered as an influential and positive figure during the war of 1812. She managed to maintain a cheerful and hopeful atmosphere in the White House. She made the president a more approachable and pleasant man. She was a socialite and was admired by all the classes. 

     She collected all the important documents in the White House and made sure that the portrait of George Washington was saved before the White House was evacuated. By saving this portrait, Dolley is remembered even more for her good works and determination. This act of bravery shows her true character and determination, because she put her life at risk by staying in the White House to get the portrait when she was supposed to have already evacuated the house. 

     While the president was away with his troops, he always kept her informed through his letters and she helped him through this difficult war with encouraging words in her letters in response to him. "Dolley had become the president's political partner." She never failed to lift him up and stand by his side with every decision he made.  Dolley wrote in a letter to a friend: “I am not the least alarmed at these things but entirely disgusted & determined to stay with him.” "But Dolley, whose determination to stay with her husband was unwavering, remained. She welcomed Madison’s decision to station 100 militiamen under the command of a regular Army colonel on the White House lawn. Not only was it a gesture of protection on his part, it was also a declaration that he and Dolley intended to stand their ground."
     Dolley Madison was a memorable person during the war of 1812 mostly for saving the portrait of George Washington. She is also remembered as a socialite and was admired by all the classes for her good works and happy spirits that spread to many others. She will forever be remembered as a heroic figure for saving a piece of not just art, but American history.

Cite used for the direct quotes

(ttp://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-dolley-madison-saved-the-day-7465218/