The Week of October 30, 1851

News in Connecticut, Stowe’s birthplace:

A court ruled in favor of two teachers who were charged with cruel punishment for flogging a student. This ruling gave teachers the power to use corporal punishment in the classroom

National News:

The beginning of what became the Telegraph Case started with a ruling that favored Samuel Morse when it came to entitlement for recorded messages. The Supreme Court took on the case in 1853.
Cotton planters came together at the Cotton Planters Convention to discuss controlling price fluctuations of cotton.

International News:

A submarine telegraph across the Straits of Dover, between England and France, was successful. This led to the initial plan to construct a trans Atlantic telegraph.
A plague in the Canary Islands led to the death of 1/5 of the population.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin in the National Era

The first installment of Uncle Tom's Cabin appeared on June 5, 1851 in the anti-slavery newspaper, The National Era. Stowe enlisted friends and family to send her information and scoured freedom narratives and anti-slavery newspapers for first hand accounts as she composed her story. In 1852 the serial was published as a two volume book. Uncle Tom's Cabin was a best seller in the United States, Britain, Europe and Asia, and was translated into over 60 languages

Uncle Tom's Cabin in the National Era