Published during the mid 1800's Uncle Tom's Cabin was a controversial book among both Northerners and Southerners due to it's anti-slavery issues, but it also provided a point for slavery. This book was one of the first works of literature that provided the north with which they thought was an accurate look at the institution of slavery. It however was fairly accurate, taking into account that Harriet Beecher Stowe had never visited the south, she had only heard what slavery was like from second hand accounts from run away slaves, which gave the book a anti-slavery feel, it still gave the south the chance to make the argument that slaves were actually treated quite well because they were an investment that their masters took care of, it also helped abolitionists spread the argument that slavery was un-moral and inhumane. .
This book came at a very volatile time in history, both the northerner and southern states need a a small reason to explode on one another. The book while telling of such true events such as the slave trade in which families were torn apart by the highest bidder. It also told of poor treatment of slaves, in which some cases were true, however for the most part slaves were treated quite well, because they were "machinery" that could be sold again and made a profit from. .
While some northerners had felt that slavery was inhumane, after Uncle Tom's Cabin was published it helped to fuel the growing movement of abolitionists in the north, as well as further the already large gap in the different sections of the country. People in the north, not knowing any better took this book as fact, and felt that it was their duty to put an end to this brutal practice of splitting up families, as well as stopping the cruel treatment of slaves, just to make more money. .
The south on the other hand took this book as fibs, the slave trade they also felt was somewhat heartless, but this was the only way of life that these people knew.