Born in Connecticut in 1811, Harriet Beecher Stowe was an abolitionist, author, and playwright. Slavery was a major industry in the American South, and Stowe worked with the Underground Railroad to help escaped slaves head north towards freedom. The publication of her book, Uncle Tom"s Cabin, a scathing anti-slavery novel, fanned the flames that started the Civil War. The book"s emotional portrayal of the impact of slavery captured the nation"s attention. A best-seller in its time, Uncle Tom"s Cabin sealed Harriet Beecher Stowe"s reputations as one of the most influential anti-slavery voices in US history.