UncleTom is an elderly slave. He lives in a little cabin near his master's house and has repeatedly proven himself to be mild and obedient. His master, Mr. Shelby, feels no bad feelings about selling Tom down the river to pay a debt.
On the boat, Tom meets a naive young girl named Eva St. Clare, whose father is rich. St. Clare decides to buy Tom from his new master. St. Clare, buys Tom. Eva makes her father consent to free all his slaves when he dies.
St. Clare dies before he can free Tom and the other slaves. Tom is then sold to a Southern plantation owner who beats Tom to death when Tom rejects to reveal the location of some runaway slaves.