Final answer:
Uncle Tom's Cabin, an influential novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe, galvanized the antislavery movement and affected public opinion on slavery in the United States by depicting its brutal realities and immoral nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
Uncle Tom's Cabin, a novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe, had a profound impact on American society and the antislavery movement. Published in 1852, it depicted the brutal realities of slavery, emphasizing moral arguments against the institution and portraying the separation of families as a heinous aspect of slave life. It sold over 300,000 copies in the North in just its first year, illustrating its immense popularity and influence. The novel incited significant reaction from both supporters and detractors of slavery, with Southern reactions serving as an indicator of the novel's accuracy in hitting at the core issues of the institution.
One major impact of Uncle Tom's Cabin was its role in galvanizing the antislavery movement in the North and affecting public opinion. The book linked the antislavery cause with the preservation of the family and the moral implications of slavery. Its widespread readership and the vehement responses it provoked suggest that it played a significant role in shaping public views on slavery and increasing tensions that led up to the Civil War.