FAQ About Harriet Beecher Stowe
What inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe to write Uncle Tom's Cabin?
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 and her observations of the harsh realities of slavery inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe to write Uncle Tom's Cabin. The Act mandated that escaped enslaved people be returned to their enslavers, even from free states, which fueled Stowe's desire to speak out against the injustices of slavery. Her visits to Kentucky, exposure to escaped slaves, and personal experiences in anti-slavery circles also motivated her to pen the novel.
