Question

why does mrs. bird oppose the fugitive slave act? use specific evidence from the reading to support your answer

Answer 1

Answer: She sympathizes with the runaway slaves, convinced that it is her Christian duty to help them.

Explanation:

Uncle Tom's Cabin is an anti-slavery novel from 1852. It was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe and is believed to have strongly influenced popular attitudes towards slavery at the time it was written.

In the novel, Senator Bird participates in passing the Fugitive Slave Act, which states that it is a crime to help a runaway slave. His wife, Mrs. Bird, strongly opposes the act and tries to prove it is morally wrong. She claims that her husband should be ashamed because he supports the act, and is certain that she will not abide by it. Mrs. Bird believes that her Christian duty is to help anyone who is in a worse position. Senator and her clearly have different opinions on this subject. However, when the two runaways arrive at their property, both Mrs. Bird and her husband offer them security. They are given food and shelter. This demonstrates that Mrs. Bird significantly influenced her husband's sense of right and wrong - his compassion prevails.