Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren is widely regarded as one of the most important founding members of the Democratic Party. Over the course of his political career, he held positions such as governor of New York, secretary of state, and vice president of the United States, among other positions. Martin Van Buren won the presidential election of 1836 with the assistance of Andrew Jackson, though he was defeated in his bid for reelection in 1840 by William Henry Harrison. Van Buren ran for president for the third time in 1848, this time as a member of the Free Soil Party.
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe was an abolitionist and author who is most known for penning the now-iconic novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which helped to bring attention to the brutal treatment of slaves in the United States. Her work became worldwide renowned and was used to motivate others to rise up against slavery, particularly in the northern hemisphere, as a result of its publication. Stowe wrote 30 novels during her lifetime, many of which were intimately concerned with social concerns and her perspective on them at the time of publication. Her works are still regarded as highly significant today, despite their age.
