March 20 in American History

March 20, 1852 — Uncle Tom's Cabin is published

Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel dramatizing the cruelty of slavery became a runaway bestseller and galvanized Northern opposition to it. Legend holds that when Lincoln met Stowe, he called her "the little lady who started this great war." A single book that helped push a nation toward its reckoning.

Common Questions

What happened on March 20 in American history?

In 1852: Uncle Tom's Cabin is published. Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel dramatizing the cruelty of slavery became a runaway bestseller and galvanized Northern opposition to it.

Why is March 20 significant?

Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel dramatizing the cruelty of slavery became a runaway bestseller and galvanized Northern opposition to it. Legend holds that when Lincoln met Stowe, he called her "the little lady who started this great war." A single book that helped push a nation toward its reckoning.

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