Harriet TubmanBy: Sydney Mitchell

Table of Contents

I. Early Life II. Childhood Slavery III. Adulthood IV. Escape from Slavery V. After Escape VI. Underground Railroad VII. African American Abolitionist VIII. Moses IX. Fugitive Slave Law X. Civil War Contributions XI. Nurse XII. Union Spy XIII. Later Life XIV. Later Life Part 2 XV. Legacy

Early Life

Harriet Tubman was born a slave roughly around March 10, 1913 in Dorchester County Maryland

She was born as Araminta "Minty" Ross to slave parents

Her mother Harriet ("Rit") Green was a cook for the Brodess family, and her father, Ben Ross was a woodsman on Thompson's plantation.

Harriet had 8 siblings.

Childhood Slavery

Harriet began to work as a slave at a very young age

When she was 5 years old, she was hired as a nursemaid

As a child, Harriet was beaten frequently by masters

Early in her life, she received a severe head injury after being hit by a heavy metal weight.

Adulthood

In 1844, Harriet married John Tubman, who was a free man

She took her husband’s last name and changed her name from what was known as “Minty” to “Harriet”

When Harriet told her ideas to her husband, he did not share her dream and refused to escape with her

Escape from Slavery

In 1849, Harriet became ill, decreasing her value as a slave

After the death of her owner, she feared her family would be further split apart. She also feared her fate as an ill slave

Harriet escaped from slavery in 1849 to Philadelphia

Tubman initially escaped with her brothers Ben and Henry on September 17, 1849

After having second thoughts, her brothers returned to the plantation. When seeing them happy, Harriet escaped alone for Pennsylvania

After Escape

Harriet had reached freedom. However, she was still concerned about the others that were being held as slaves.

““I had crossed de line of which I had so long been dreaming. I was free; but dere was no one to welcome me to de land of freedom, I was a stranger in a strange land, and my home after all was down in de old cabin quarter, wid de ole folks, and my brudders and sisters. But to dis solemn resolution I came; I was free, and dey should be free also; I would make a home for dem in de North, and de Lord helping me, I would bring dem all dere.” –Harriet Tubman

Underground Railroad

Harriet went back to slave-holding states at least nineteen times to lead her family and hundreds of other slaves through the Underground Railroad toward freedom.

She guided the slaves safely to the northern free states and to Canada

Harriet Tubman became famous as a “conductor” on the Underground Railroad

The rewards for Tubman's capture totaled $40,000. However, she was still able to guide her and other passengers to safety.

African American Abolitionist

After freeing 70 slaves from Maryland, Harriet’s reputation began to grow in the abolitionist community

She then became in the know of Frederick Douglass and John Brown, two other active abolitionists

John Brown included her in his plans to organize an anti-slavery raid of a federal armory in Harpers Ferry

Abolitionists such as John Brown referred to Harriet as “General Tubman” an celebrated her courage

“Moses”

Harriet earned the nickname “Moses” for her leadership Many slaves sang the song “Go Down Moses” in hopes

that their savior would guide them to freedom as Moses did in the Bible

Harriet became known as "The Moses of her people" because she led southern slaves to freedom

Fugitive Slave Law

The Fugitive Slave Law stated that slaves that were captured in the North could be returned

This law led abduction to occur of former slaves and free blacks living in Free States

Northern law officials were now required to capture slaves

Tubman re-routed the Underground Railroad to Canada in reaction to the law.

Civil War Contributions

The American Civil War was a civil war fought to determine the survival of the Union or independence for the Confederacy

During the Civil War, Harriet worked for the Union army as a nurse, a cook, and a spy.

Harriet was familiar with the land, due to her experience leading slaves along the Underground Railroad, which was helpful

She gathered former slaves to hunt for rebel camps and report on the movement of the Confederate troops.

Nurse

In 1862, Governor Andrew of Massachusetts arranged for Tubman to go to Beaufort, South Carolina, as a nurse

She continued to work as a nurse in efforts to heal the sick

She provided care that was desperately needed for black soldiers and newly liberated slaves

Union Spy

Working with General David Hunter, Tubman began spying and scouting missions behind Confederate lines

On June of 1863, Harriet joined Colonel James Montgomery in an assault on several plantations along the Combahee River

The assault ended up rescuing more than 700 slaves

Later Life

After the Civil War, Harriet traveled to South Carolina, where she worked to establish schools for freedmen

She soon returned to Auburn, New York where she was sold a piece of land by Senator William H. Seward, an abolitionist

The land became a special place for Harriet’s family and friends

She then married Nelson Davis, a former Union Army soldier

Later Life Part 2

As Harriet aged, the head trauma she experienced as a child continued to cause her pain

By 1911, her body was began to weaken, leading her to be admitted into a rest home that was named in her honor

Harriet Tubman died of pneumonia in 1913. She was surrounded by family and friends

Legacy Harriet Tubman was buried with military honors in

Auburn, New York. Tubman was is known as an abolitionist, nurse, union

spy, and hero. She impacted her culture by creating a path to freedom for her ancestors and countless other slaves.

Harriet Tubman is responsible for leading over 300 slaves to freedom

She continues to inspire generations of Americans, because of her bravery

Her name adorns schools and museums

Sources

http://www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/tubman/aa_tubman_spy_3.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet_Tubman

http://www.biography.com/people/harriet-tubman-9511430