uncle tom's cabin; or, life among the lowly is an anti-slavery novel by harriet beecher stowe. it was published in 1852. it greatly influenced many people's thoughts about african americans and slavery in the united states. it also strengthened the conflict between the northern and southern united states. this led to the american civil war. the book's effect was so powerful that lincoln said when he met stowe at the beginning of the civil war, "so this is the little lady who made this big war."