1. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Background Information

2. Historical Ramifications: In the 1850s, where did the state of Missouri stand on the issue of slavery? In the 1850s, where did the state of Missouri stand on the issue of slavery? How were slaves regarded prior to the Civil War? After the Civil War? How were slaves regarded prior to the Civil War? After the Civil War? How could intelligent people actually believe that slavery was an appropriate institution? How could intelligent people actually believe that slavery was an appropriate institution? Why were actions such as helping slaves escape or teaching slaves to read considered punishable crimes? Why were actions such as helping slaves escape or teaching slaves to read considered punishable crimes?

3. Continued: What causes racial prejudice? How can attitudes between races be improved? What causes racial prejudice? How can attitudes between races be improved? Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was published in the 1880s, well after slavery had been abolished. Twain grew up when slavery was legal, and the novel’s setting is the 1840s/1850s, before the Civil War. Twain wrote the novel to condemn the “Jim Crow” laws that existed after the Civil War. What did he understand about humanity that many people of his time (and even today) did not? Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was published in the 1880s, well after slavery had been abolished. Twain grew up when slavery was legal, and the novel’s setting is the 1840s/1850s, before the Civil War. Twain wrote the novel to condemn the “Jim Crow” laws that existed after the Civil War. What did he understand about humanity that many people of his time (and even today) did not?