She was inspired by the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which intensified the national debate over slavery. She wanted to use her writing to expose the horrors of slavery and its impact on both enslaved people and those who held them captive.
It's important to note that Stowe had been writing for some time before this. She had already published several books and stories, and she was an active advocate for social justice. However, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" is her most famous work, and it had a profound impact on the abolitionist movement.