In 1962, Abraham Lincoln met Harriet Beecher Stowe. According to legend, she said, “So you are the little lady who wrote the book that started this Great War” (Harriet Beecher Stowe Center). Uncle Tom's Cabin, a controversial novel written about slavery during the 1800s, aroused many of the feelings that would eventually escalate to cause the bloodiest war America had ever seen. At the beginning of the novel, Mr. Shelby, a Kentucky plantation owner, must sell two of his slaves to pay off his debt to Haley, a slave trader. Going against his conscience, he decides to sell Tom, a religious and faithful old slave, and Harry, a brilliant child. When Eliza, Harry's mother, overhears Mr. Shelby discussing the matter with his wife, Eliza decides to run away. Eliza leaves, hoping to meet her husband in Canada, who has decided to run away from his master that day. . In the morning, when Haley discovers that Eliza has escaped, she chases her until Eliza attempts a daring escape across the Ohio River by running over pieces of floating ice. After employing a group of men to track down Eliza, Tom and Haley set off for New Orleans. While traveling down the river on a steamship, Tom befriends a young girl named Eva and saves her from drowning when she falls into the sea. Eva's father, St. Clare, buys Tom to be Eva's personal servant. Over time, Tom and Eva become very close. Eva, like her father, is very kind and devoted to her slaves. He even transforms the life of a hardened young slave named Topsy. When it becomes clear that Eva, now quite ill, is about to die, she calls together all the servants and gives each of her golden locks so that they can remember her. Eva dies peacefully, but her family... middle of paper... Print.Clendenning, John. "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Book of the world. 2002. Print.Donald, David Herbert. "Abolitionist Movement in the United States." Book of the world. 2002. Print.Donald, David Herbert. "Underground Railroad." Book of the world. 2002. Print. "Impact of Uncle Tom's Cabin, Slavery, and the Civil War." The national and international impact of Uncle Tom's Cabin. Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, n.d. Web. 24 September 2013. “North American Review.” Rev. of Uncle Tom's Cabin. North American Review [Boston] October 1853: 467-93. Stephen Railton, 1998. Web. 24 September 2013. Stowe, Harriet Beecher. Uncle Tom's Cabin, or life among the humble. New York: Sterling, 2012. PrintWalpole. "Southern Slavery. A Look at Uncle Tom's Cabin." Rev. of Uncle Tom's Cabin. New York Times June 22, 1853: n. page Stephen Railton, 2004. Web. 24 September. 2013