Uncle Tom's Cabin Study Guide

Uncle Tom's Cabin is Harriet Beecher Stowe's story of three slaves and the paths their lives take in pre-Civil war America. As the story begins a man named Mr. Haley is in the home of Mr. Shelby, a plantation owner in Kentucky. Mr. Shelby has incurred a debt owed to Mr. Haley who wants slaves for payment. Mr. Shelby is reluctantly offering up his best slave, Tom, who is loyal and trustworthy and a credit to any man. Haley is impressed by Tom's characteristics but needs another slave to complete the deal. (read more)