Uncle Tom’s Cabin is a book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1852 documenting in the great detail the tragic breakup of a black Kentucky slave family. The novel was meant to raise awareness of the American public to the evil and immortality of slavery. This may be one of the most influential American novels written, labeled by Abraham Lincoln as having strongly influenced the American Civil War.
Written only nine years before the American Civil War, the novel shed light on the mistreatment of African American slaves. Most people of the time knew that slavery was fundamentally wrong, and in many ways contradicted their Christian beliefs. However, in the South slavery had become socially acceptable, mostly because it was profitable and the majority the Southern economy was based on slave ownership. The book stirred up moral values and helped shift public opinion to the support of the abolitionist movement.
One of the major themes of the book is that Christianity is slavery cannot coexist. Stowe believed that slavery was part of a large social system based on profit, and had no regard for human costs. The problem was that majority of the people preferred to “look the other way”, and no single politician had the weight necessary to attack the system. The book was a perfect solution since it bypassed politicians and public speakers, and made its way directly into the homes, and hearts, of Americans.
There were a few events that motivated Harriet Beecher Stowe to write Uncle Tom’s cabin. The first was the death of her son at a year and a half, at which point she realized the loss that African-American slave mothers had to encounter every time there children were sold away. Then in 1850 the Fugitive Slave Law was passed that mandated every slave who escapes to the North a fugitive that must be returned to their “rightful” owners. Furthermore, individuals who assisted the runaway slaves were considered accessories to the crime, and would be fined $1,000. The new law caused discontent with many educated Americans who were not reliant on the cheap labor supply of the slaves, mainly Northerners. Harriet Beecher Stowe was one of these individuals and felt that she had to speak out on the issue.
This was the first major publication that spoke on behalf of the struggles of African-American slaves. For this reason the stereotypes shaped by this book have had very long lasting effects on American culture, and the rest of the world. Some of the stereotypes are criticized as being rather extreme and “racist” negatively characterizing black slaves and completely demonizing white slave owners. Whether the book exaggerated the truth is quite irrelevant, and cannot be attacked for that reason since it was never meant to be a true documentary. Dismissing the negative connotations of the word, the book was a very effective form of propaganda, and if Stowe didn’t write it, somebody would’ve written something of the sort sooner or later to gain abolitionist support of the North.
As mentioned before, a number of stereotypes have made their ways into American culture. For example, the stereotype of Topsy, a black child who is quite unruly and untidy, has made its way into the American subconscious, and is has influenced a number of characters in books and movies, most notably as Prissy in “Gone with the Wind”. Another popularized stereotype is of a fair skin mulatto girl, Eliza, who was sexually abused by her master. This stereotype has also made it into the hearts of many Americans, and became a common caricature in many American movies due to her alienation from both races
The primary character, and the most influential stereotype originated from the novel was Uncle Tom’s character. The term “uncle tom” is still used today when referring to successful African-Americans. Although unofficial, but a good definition of “uncle tom” can be taken from urbandictionary.com, “A black man who will do anything to stay in good standing with “the white man” including betray his own people.” And even better definition, also from urbandictionary.com, “Uncle Tom is a term used by black people to try to convince other black people that working, education, living well, and setting a good example for their children is selling out. ”
The effect this Novel had on American history is a good demonstration of good and bad public relations. The South was completely oblivious when it came to swaying the opinion of the Northerners which might’ve prevented the war altogether. Although a few “anti-Tom” publications came out, it was too late to shift public opinion in the favor of slave ownership being that Uncle Tom’s Cabin sold 300,000 copies in its first year, becoming international sensation, surpassing the Bible. Perhaps if Southerners treated slaves better, or in the very least gave the impression that they did, they might’ve prevent books such as this from being written. When quantified, the amount of money Southerners might have saved by pushing for the Fugitive Slave Act fails is a drop in a bucket when compared to how much they would’ve made if the abolition was postponed for a few more decades. Without this novel being published the war might have been put off for a few more decades.
Uncle Toms cabin
Uncle Tom’s Cabin is a book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1852 documenting in the great detail the tragic breakup of a black Kentucky slave family. The novel was meant to raise awareness of the American public to the evil and immortality of slavery. This may be one of the most influential American novels written, labeled by Abraham Lincoln as having strongly influenced the American Civil War.
Written only nine years before the American Civil War, the novel shed light on the mistreatment of African American slaves. Most people of the time knew that slavery was fundamentally wrong, and in many ways contradicted their Christian beliefs. However, in the South slavery had become socially acceptable, mostly because it was profitable and the majority the Southern economy was based on slave ownership. The book stirred up moral values and helped shift public opinion to the support of the abolitionist movement.
One of the major themes of the book is that Christianity is slavery cannot coexist. Stowe believed that slavery was part of a large social system based on profit, and had no regard for human costs. The problem was that majority of the people preferred to “look the other way”, and no single politician had the weight necessary to attack the system. The book was a perfect solution since it bypassed politicians and public speakers, and made its way directly into the homes, and hearts, of Americans.
There were a few events that motivated Harriet Beecher Stowe to write Uncle Tom’s cabin. The first was the death of her son at a year and a half, at which point she realized the loss that African-American slave mothers had to encounter every time there children were sold away. Then in 1850 the Fugitive Slave Law was passed that mandated every slave who escapes to the North a fugitive that must be returned to their “rightful” owners. Furthermore, individuals who assisted the runaway slaves were considered accessories to the crime, and would be fined $1,000. The new law caused discontent with many educated Americans who were not reliant on the cheap labor supply of the slaves, mainly Northerners. Harriet Beecher Stowe was one of these individuals and felt that she had to speak out on the issue.
This was the first major publication that spoke on behalf of the struggles of African-American slaves. For this reason the stereotypes shaped by this book have had very long lasting effects on American culture, and the rest of the world. Some of the stereotypes are criticized as being rather extreme and “racist” negatively characterizing black slaves and completely demonizing white slave owners. Whether the book exaggerated the truth is quite irrelevant, and cannot be attacked for that reason since it was never meant to be a true documentary. Dismissing the negative connotations of the word, the book was a very effective form of propaganda, and if Stowe didn’t write it, somebody would’ve written something of the sort sooner or later to gain abolitionist support of the North.
As mentioned before, a number of stereotypes have made their ways into American culture. For example, the stereotype of Topsy, a black child who is quite unruly and untidy, has made its way into the American subconscious, and is has influenced a number of characters in books and movies, most notably as Prissy in “Gone with the Wind”. Another popularized stereotype is of a fair skin mulatto girl, Eliza, who was sexually abused by her master. This stereotype has also made it into the hearts of many Americans, and became a common caricature in many American movies due to her alienation from both races
The primary character, and the most influential stereotype originated from the novel was Uncle Tom’s character. The term “uncle tom” is still used today when referring to successful African-Americans. Although unofficial, but a good definition of “uncle tom” can be taken from urbandictionary.com, “A black man who will do anything to stay in good standing with “the white man” including betray his own people.” And even better definition, also from urbandictionary.com, “Uncle Tom is a term used by black people to try to convince other black people that working, education, living well, and setting a good example for their children is selling out. ”
The effect this Novel had on American history is a good demonstration of good and bad public relations. The South was completely oblivious when it came to swaying the opinion of the Northerners which might’ve prevented the war altogether. Although a few “anti-Tom” publications came out, it was too late to shift public opinion in the favor of slave ownership being that Uncle Tom’s Cabin sold 300,000 copies in its first year, becoming international sensation, surpassing the Bible. Perhaps if Southerners treated slaves better, or in the very least gave the impression that they did, they might’ve prevent books such as this from being written. When quantified, the amount of money Southerners might have saved by pushing for the Fugitive Slave Act fails is a drop in a bucket when compared to how much they would’ve made if the abolition was postponed for a few more decades. Without this novel being published the war might have been put off for a few more decades.