Editing Hartford, Connecticut (section)

====Political turmoil====

[[File:State Street Looking East, Hartford, CT.jpg|thumb|220x220px|State Street in 1914|left]]

On December 15, 1814, delegates from the five [[New England]] states ([[Maine]] was still part of [[Massachusetts]] at that time) gathered at the [[Hartford Convention]] to discuss New England's possible [[secession]] from the United States.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.britannica.com/event/Hartford-Convention|title=Hartford Convention {{!}} United States history|work=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=April 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507231518/https://www.britannica.com/event/Hartford-Convention|archive-date=May 7, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> During the early 19th century, the Hartford area was a center of [[Abolitionism in the United States|abolitionist]] activity, and the most famous abolitionist family was the Beechers. The Reverend [[Lyman Beecher]] was an important Congregational minister known for his anti-slavery sermons.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.pbs.org/godinamerica/people/lyman-beecher.html|title=God in America – People – Lyman Beecher|work=God in America|access-date=April 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429164855/http://www.pbs.org/godinamerica/people/lyman-beecher.html|archive-date=April 29, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Lyman_Beecher|title=Lyman Beecher – Ohio History Central|website=ohiohistorycentral.org|access-date=April 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170506054110/http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Lyman_Beecher|archive-date=May 6, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> His daughter [[Harriet Beecher Stowe]] wrote ''[[Uncle Tom's Cabin]]''; her brother [[Henry Ward Beecher]] was a noted clergyman who vehemently opposed slavery and supported the temperance movement and women's suffrage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Harriet_B._Stowe|title=Harriet B. Stowe – Ohio History Central|website=ohiohistorycentral.org|access-date=April 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170516151333/http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Harriet_B._Stowe|archive-date=May 16, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org/hbs/|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20170525015804/https://www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org/hbs/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 25, 2017|title=Harriet Beecher Stowe's Life|website=harrietbeecherstowecenter.org|access-date=April 30, 2017}}</ref> The Stowes' sister [[Isabella Beecher Hooker]] was a leading member of the [[feminism|women's rights movement]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nwhm.org/education-resources/biography/biographies/isabella-beecher-hooker/|title=Education & Resources – National Women's History Museum – NWHM|website=nwhm.org|access-date=April 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108015237/https://www.nwhm.org/education-resources/biography/biographies/isabella-beecher-hooker/|archive-date=November 8, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:PostcardBulkeleyBridgeHartfordCT19061916.jpg|thumb|220x220px|Bulkeley Bridge, {{circa|1906}}–1916|left]]

In 1860, Hartford was the site of the first "[[Wide Awakes]]", abolitionist supporters of [[Abraham Lincoln]]. These supporters organized torch-light parades that were both political and social events, often including fireworks and music, in celebration of Lincoln's visit to the city. This type of event caught on and eventually became a staple of mid-to-late 19th-century campaigning.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Wide-Awakes – Today in History: July 26 |url=https://connecticuthistory.org/hartford-wide-awakes-today-in-history/ |website=Connecticuthistory.org |access-date=April 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501231223/http://connecticuthistory.org/hartford-wide-awakes-today-in-history/ |archive-date=May 1, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Hartford was a major manufacturing city from the 19th century until the mid-20th century. During the Industrial Revolution into the mid-20th century, the Connecticut River Valley cities produced many major precision manufacturing innovations. Among these was Hartford's pioneer bicycle and automobile maker [[Pope Manufacturing Company|Pope]].<ref>Clymer, Floyd. ''Treasury of Early American Automobiles, 1877–1925'' (New York: Bonanza Books, 1950), p.37.</ref> Many factories have been closed or relocated, or have reduced operations, as in nearly all former Northern manufacturing cities.