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What is Harriet Beecher place in the history of Civil War?

Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811–1896) was an American author and advocate of abolitionism. Her most famous novel, *Uncle Tom's Cabin* (1852), was a powerful indictment of slavery and played a major role in bringing the issue of slavery to the forefront of the national consciousness. In the years leading up to the Civil War, Stowe used her writing to rally support for the abolitionist cause and to encourage northerners to resist the expansion of slavery into new territories. She also helped to organize the Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses used by slaves to escape to freedom.

*Uncle Tom's Cabin* was an immediate bestseller, selling over 300,000 copies in the United States in its first year of publication. It was also widely translated and published in other countries, where it had a similar impact in raising awareness of the issue of slavery. The book's vivid portrayal of the brutal realities of slavery and its sympathetic treatment of enslaved people helped to change the way that many people thought about the institution of slavery.

Stowe's writing and activism made her a controversial figure in her time. She was subjected to criticism and even threats of violence from southerners who defended slavery. However, she never wavered in her commitment to the abolitionist cause. She continued to write and speak out against slavery until the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which abolished slavery, was ratified in 1865.

Stowe's work had a profound impact on the history of the United States. *Uncle Tom's Cabin* is credited with helping to turn public opinion against slavery and playing a role in the outbreak of the Civil War. Stowe herself was a tireless advocate for the abolition of slavery and women's rights. She is remembered as one of the most influential writers and activists of her time.

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