Local Antebellum History

Studying the Civil War by only focusing on the years of 1861-1865 does the student a disservice. Without a foundational understanding of the many faceted causes of the war one can make too many broad-brush assumptions, particularly when it comes to the more controversial causes that led to the war. By the way, if you ask me for just one main cause of the war, I will respond "economics" - the agrarian society that permeated through the ruling class in the South (large plantation owners and business magnates that replied on the products that the plantations produced) required vast amounts of physical labor, so slavery was the way to provide labor at a minimal loss in profit. But even my answer is too simplified as there were many other facets that weaved into the fabric of the antebellum period - one, a loud but relatively small facet, was abolitionism. 

One should read and study such events as "Bleeding Kansas" and John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry in order to obtain a smidgen of abolitionist context. Visiting some of the sites where leading abolitionists, such as Frederick Douglass, John Rankin, or Levi Coffin, help us understand not only their intentions, but also gives us some insight as to the plight of those they were helping through their words and deeds.

Near where I live in Cincinnati (two miles to be exact) is the Harriet Beecher Stowe House. To be clear this is not the house in which Stowe wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin, but it is where Harriet resided when she experienced visits into Kentucky that exposed her to horrors of the slave trade. As her father was president of Lane Seminary, Harriet lived within a household in which abolitionism was spoken of frequently, and debated over heatedly. I do not want to detail Harriet's life here, but instead want to push the reader of this blog to visit her home in Cincinnati.

Image from Cincinnati Business Courier

Recently restored to its antebellum appearance, the Harriet Beecher Stowe House (stowehousecincy.org) is a unit of the Ohio History Connection, but is managed locally, which is a trend the OHC has been utilizing in recent years. In some ways this sort of of management process ensures that a local entity, which typically has more energy and focus, can create a special place without the distractions of having to manage numerous sites at a statewide level. The Stowe House benefits from an active leadership that is focused on not only telling Harriet's story but also the use of the expanded house in the 1900s as a inn for the African-American community. There are numerous events such as speakers and tours, permanent and rotating exhibits (both indoor and outdoor), a picnic area (a newer addition), and a giftshop with a wide selection of books and other items. Guided tours occur at the top of each hour. And a few years ago a new interstate exit was created off of I-71 which allows very easy access to the house for those coming from out of town. 

For full transparency, the neighborhood surrounding the house is and can be a little rough. One Sunday morning during a walk I came across three locals smoking crack while perched on a set of steps leading down from the house. There is an off-street parking lot available, and during hours of operation folks should not have any issues as long as they stay on the property grounds.

When studying the Civil War, dig deeper. Try to understand the conditions and influences from all aspects of those living during this turbulent time. And be certain to visit the Harriet Beecher Stowe House when in Cincinnati.