An Influential Family

Lyman Beecher was a Presbyterian minister in the 1800’s, who preached anti-slavery sermons, and was a revivalist and social reformer. He was the father of 13 children, many of which became significant figures in our nation’s history. Beecher became the head of Lane Theological Seminary, which was founded in Cincinnati, Ohio and was affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. During this time, issues such as slavery were threatening to divide the Presbyterian Church and the school, and the school’s board of directors tried to prohibit the students from supporting abolitionism. Students debated the issue of slavery and many adopted the cause of abolitionism and chose to leave the school. These events contributed to the beginning of the civil war when they sparked a national discussion of abolition.

Harriet Beecher Stowe was one of the daughters of Lyman Beecher who is famous for her anti-slavery novel called Uncle Tom’s Cabin. This book changed how American’s viewed slavery with it’s emotional portrayal of the impact of slavery. She believed that slavery was “ a clear violation of the great law which commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves.” She heard first hand stories from former enslaved people, and she also learned that even the discussion of slavery could divide a community. Her book demanded that the United States deliver its promise of freedom and equality, and it was a huge contribution to the abolition movement and the civil war.

Stowe was not the only child of Lyman Beecher that was important to American history. Each of them had some sort of significant role or achievement, whether it was being a minister, teacher, or author, or advocating for what they believed in such as abolition or women’s rights. The Beecher family, with their firm religious beliefs, made a huge impact on religion, education, abolition, literature, and reform movements in America.