Fugitive Slave Law of 1850

1. Uncle Tom’s Cabin As A Challenge to Slave Law Andrea Khan Senior Research and Writing Seminar in Jurisprudence, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ Purpose of Study The purpose of this study is to utilize an interdisciplinary approach to examine the hypothesis that Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin influenced change in the law with regard to slavery in pre- to post- Civil War America. Disciplines: Law (Slave Law) and Literature (19th Century American novel) • Law • AmericanSlave Law • Pre-Civil War American law demonstrates tradition of pro-slavery attitude. • Literature • Uncle Tom’s Cabin • Novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe is published in 1852. • Uses elements of the popular sentimental novel to influence emotions of readers toward anti-slavery attitude. • Stowe has personal moral objections to slavery , citing her Christian beliefs and the natural rights of all men. Integration Literature Changes Law Civil war 1862- American Civil War begins after stagnation in attempts at compromise between North and South over slavery 1862- President Abraham Lincoln meets Harriet Beecher Stowe for first time and playfully states “so this is the little lady who made this big war”- referring to the American Civil War Slavery is an incredibly lucrative institution in the American South as an incomparably cheap source of labor. Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 passed by Congress forces Northern states to return runaway slaves to alleged owners. Provides no rights for suspected runaways. 1865- Civil War ends along with slavery; 13th Amendment ending slavery is adopted. Dred Scott Decision 1857- US Supreme Court opinion against Missouri slave Dred Scott declares that black persons are not considered citizens under the Constitution. Conclusion Although there were many causes of the Civil War, interdisciplinary research indicates that Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin influenced public attitude toward anti-slavery to such an extent as to be a major contributing factor to the eruption of the war, and thus affected change in the slave law. SRS, 2009