Reading list "For many years of her life, the author avoided reading upon or allusion to the subject of
slavery, considering it as too painful to be inquired into, and one which advancing light
and civilization would certainly live down. But, since the legislative act of 1850, when
she heard, with perfect surprise and consternation, Christian and humane people
actually recommending the remanding escaped fugitives into slavery, as a duty binding
on good citizens, --when she heard, on all hands, from kind, compassionate and estimable
people, in the free states of the North, deliberations and discussions as to what Christian
duty could be on this head -- she could only think, thee men and Christians cannot know
what slavery is: if they did, such a question could never be open for discussion. Ad from
this arose a desire to exhibit it in a living dramatic reality."
1. Why does Stowe say she wrote the book? What was she trying to accomplish?
2. Why did she choose to write a novel instead of publishing newspaper articles,
making speeches, or performing some other action?
3. The "legislative act of 1850" was also called the Fugitive Slave Act. From this
paragraph, what do you think the Fugitive Slave Act did?