* It depicted slavery in a horrific and exaggerated light: The novel portrayed the brutality of slavery through the suffering of its protagonist, Uncle Tom, and other characters. This deeply offended Southerners who believed slavery was a benevolent institution. They saw the novel as a blatant attack on their way of life and their moral character.
* It fueled abolitionist sentiment in the North: *Uncle Tom's Cabin* became a massive bestseller, sparking sympathy for enslaved people and further fueling the abolitionist movement in the North. This strengthened the divide between the North and the South and made the issue of slavery even more volatile.
* It challenged the South's economic and social structures: The novel's portrayal of slavery as inhumane and morally wrong directly challenged the South's reliance on slave labor for its economic prosperity. Southerners saw the book as a threat to their entire way of life.
* It damaged the South's reputation internationally: The popularity of the novel spread beyond America, exposing the realities of slavery to an international audience. This damaged the South's image and further isolated them on the world stage.
In response, Southerners actively condemned the novel and its author. They wrote their own pro-slavery literature, attempting to counter the book's narrative. However, the damage was already done. *Uncle Tom's Cabin* had a significant impact on public opinion and is widely considered to have been a pivotal work in the movement toward the abolition of slavery in the United States.