Author + Origins
Who wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin?
Harriet Beecher Stowe
How did Uncle Tom's Cabin contribute to the Civil War, according to some historians?
It intensified sectional tensions.
In which country did Uncle Tom's Cabin also become a bestseller, influencing anti-slavery movements?
Great Britain
What year was Uncle Tom's Cabin published (+- 5 years)?
1852
Why did Southerners criticize the novel?
They claimed it misrepresented slavery.
How did the novel affect Britain’s view of American slavery?
It strengthened British abolitionist efforts.
What act inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe to write the novel?
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
What was the novel’s impact on Northern attitudes toward slavery?
It increased abolitionist sentiment.
What role did British women play in promoting the novel?
They used it to support abolitionist petitions.
In which magazine did the novel originally appear as a serialized story?
The National Era
What form of entertainment popularized the novel further during the 19th century?
Stage adaptations
What was the general European reaction to Uncle Tom's Cabin?
Widespread sympathy for enslaved African Americans
What did Abraham Lincoln say to Stowe when he met her?
“So you’re the little lady who made this big war.”
How many copies were sold in the U.S. during its first year of publication? (+-50,000)
300,000
How many languages has Uncle Tom's Cabin been translated into?
Over 60
What is Silas's favorite color?
Periwinkle