Harriet was the noted author of Uncle Tom's Cabin, the book that introduced the realities of slavery to the entire world. She was born June 14, 1811 in Litchfield, Connecticut. Her sister Catherine educated her at the Hartford Female Academy. Harriet's father, Lyman Beecher, was a famous preacher; her sister, Catherine, was in the forefront of education for women; and her brother, Henry Ward Beecher was a famous abolitionist preacher.

1. What is meant by "the pen is mightier than the sword?"
2. Why was the Fugitive Slave Act difficult for the northern states to accept?
3. How do you think writing a story could change someone's mind?
4. Did Kansas want to enter the Union as a free or slave state?