Frederick Douglas electrified abolitionist audiences across the north; but when Abraham Lincoln was introduced to Harriet Beecher Stowe, he said, "So this is the little lady who started this great war." Do you think Uncle Tom's Cabin had a greater impact than Douglas on changing northern sentiment on slavery? Why or why not?
             As to who had the greater impact on changing the northern sentiment you can make a great argument for both sides. They both played a huge role in changing how people felt about slavery in the north.
             One could argue that Stowe obviously had the greater impact because the president of the United States claimed that she started the war, but personally I believe that quote is a bit exaggerated. It could be taken out of context or it simply could be said as a joke because her book was causing so much controversy. Also it is a known fact that slavery wasn't the only reason the civil war was fought. You could also argue that her book was circulated more and reached more people. Another argument that could be made is; that because Harriet was white in a time where black people were looked down upon, more white citizens would read and listen to what she had to say than would listen to Douglas because he was black. Much of the way Douglas reached people evolved speaking in public venues. He was a brilliant speaker; however it may have been hard to attract white folks to publicly show that they were supporting a movement lead by a black man. In that time it would have been easier and much more acceptable to support Stowe even though she was fighting for the exact same thing.
             At the same time you could make the argument that Douglas was a brilliant speaker and physically went out and lectured to people on how brutal and morally wrong slavery was. And in doing this he reached people better than Stowe did, because it is easier to get people to follow by making a brilliant speech then it is to write
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