Uncle Tom's Cabin, written by Harriet Beecher Stowe and published in 1852, played a significant role in deepening the divide between the northern and southern United States over the issue of slavery. The novel depicted the harsh realities of slavery and the inhumane treatment of enslaved individuals, particularly through the character of Uncle Tom. The novel brought attention to the moral implications of slavery and helped to galvanize anti-slavery sentiments in the North.
While the novel was widely celebrated in the North and in abolitionist circles, it was met with outrage in the South. Southerners saw Uncle Tom's Cabin as a direct attack on their way of life and their economic livelihood, as slavery was deeply ingrained in the Southern economy. The portrayal of Southern slave owners as cruel and inhumane further fueled tensions between the North and South.
Ultimately, Uncle Tom's Cabin contributed to the growing divide between the North and South, highlighting their differing views on the institution of slavery and further polarizing the nation in the years leading up to the Civil War. The novel is considered one of the catalysts for the Civil War and its lasting impact on American society.
How did uncle Tom's cabin pull the nation apart?
1 answer