Harriet Beecher Stoowe Chapter 1 Summary

In Chapter 19 of Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, the AP theme of American and National Identity is displayed by the debate over slavery between St. Clare and Miss Ophelia. The two have very different views on slavery, racism, and the role of blacks in society. Miss Ophelia, a northerner, is MORE racist than the slave owning St. Clare. St. Clare believes that his slaves should not be worked hard and she be taught religion. He uses his slaves to help him with his finances and believes in morality. He openly states that he thinks that slavery is an abomination, but defends his slave ownership as not being like the other slave owners in the south who are harsh and work their slaves. Miss Ophelia is much more afraid of Blacks and feels that St. Clare is wasting Slave labor and money. She says that she has never even touched a black person before. This argument represents the American National Identity. There was no clear idea of what the identity of the Nation was. In this time period, America was beyond split over Slavery and antislavery. Many Political parties …show more content…
This is when two different areas, primarily the north and the south, hold different views and there is controversy over the beliefs each of them hold. This belief that held so much controversy is the debate over slavery. In this chapter Miss Ophelia and St. Clare argue over slavery. Miss Ophelia claims that slavery is cruel after hearing the news of Prue being whipped to death. St. Clare justifies his ownership of slaves by saying it isn’t harsh like the other owners out in the south. Many people like Miss Ophelia felt it was the system as a whole that was corrupt and not the slave holder specifically. This dispute rocked the country, like it did between Miss Ophelia and St. Clare, for a very long time until the Succession of the south and the outbreak of the Civil