Literature is highly influential in society.

I have no objection to the definitions provided. But, I wish to narrow the scope some and make this solely about the influence of American novels on American Society seeing as there is limited space for arguments. Furthermore, pro holds the burden of proof for this debate and has to prove how influential literature is in society or the influence is null. I also wish to add my own definitions: Abolitionism: antislavery activism between the early 1830s, when William Lloyd Garrison began publishing The Liberator, and the Civil War Pro begins by citing two novels, Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, and The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe The novel is undoubtedly anti-slavery but, this book is not as influential as my opponent makes it out to be. First of all, the abolitionist movement was not as widespread and influential as my opponent makes it out to be. Very few people were actually abolitionists and the majority of the population of the North abolitionists to be dangerous fanatics. More people were Republicans who did not want to abolish slavery but, instead wanted to stop the spread of slavery. The novel Uncle Tom's Cabin did not bring northern political leaders to abolish slavery. Just look at the 1860 elections, this was Republican vs Democrat. The Republican platform was to stop the SPREAD of slavery not abolish it outright. Furthermore, Lincoln, the Republican candidate, only received 39.8% of the popular vote (1). So a majority of the population did not even want to stop the spread of slavery. Lincoln did not even receive unanimous approval from the North. If Uncle Tom's Cabin was so influential, in this regard, why didn't a majority of the population support Lincoln? In fact, Abraham Lincoln said that if he could preserve the Union without freeing a single slave he would do so. Second, tensions between the north and south were not influenced by Uncle Tom's Cabin, political decisions such as the Dredd Scott decision, the Kansas Nebraska Act (which repealed the Missouri Compromise--the major reason there was no Civil War earlier), states vs federal rights (the biggest reason for the Civil War), and the election of Abraham Lincoln were the reasons strained tensions between the north and south erupted to war within the United States. Uncle Tom's Cabin was not influential factor in this. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. On June 30, 1906 the meat inspection act was passed. My opponents sole claim is that the novel provoked Roosevelt to send men into meat packing factories to inspect them which caused the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act. First, the Pure Food and Drug Act passed Congress on February 12, 1906 before the novel was published on February 28, 1906. Second, the Meat Inspection Act. There were two main reasons for this. European refusal to recognize US meat packing laws and Roosevelt's investigation into the meatpacking industry between 1904 and 1906. Before the book was published. Political and economic pressure from Europe is much more influential to the highest levels of politics then a novel. Literature is not highly influential seeing as it was not the major factor for beginning or continuance of either issue presented.