Harriet Tubman Writing
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Literature Report Mrs. Jacobson By Mali New Grade 7 Harriet Tubman Harriet Tubman was born in 1820, in Dorchester County, Maryland. Her birth name was Araminta Ross, but later on in her life she changed it to her mother’s name, Harriet. She was an African American woman who saved many slaves before the abolition of slavery. Harriet was born into slavery and therefore had a very hard childhood. At the mere age of five she was whipped for things like stealing a lump of sugar. She also worked in the home of a planter who ordered her into nearby marshes to check the muskrat traps. Even after catching the measles, she was sent into waist- high freezing water. Harriet spoke of her homesickness during this period of time. Once, one slave owner threw a two pound weight at her. This caused her a head injury from which she suffered throughout her life. In 1844, Harriet married a free black man, John Tubman. Right after their marriage, she changed her name from Araminta to Harriet. When he died, she remarried Nelson Davis and adopted a child named Gertie. Tubman, along with her two brothers escaped from slavery on September 17, 1840. Because of various reasons, her brothers decided to go back, forcing Harriet with them. Soon afterwards, she escaped again without her brothers. Though her exact route is unknown, she made use of the Underground Railroad. This system was made up of free blacks, white abolitionists and Christian activists. In 1859, an abolitionist sold Harriet a piece of land in Auburn, New York. There, she delivered her family and friends from slavery. For years she took in boarders and relatives, offering a safe place for black Americans in the North.
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Literature Report Mrs. Jacobson
By Mali New Grade 7
Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman was born in 1820, in Dorchester County, Maryland.Her birth name was Araminta Ross, but later on in her life shechanged it to her mother’s name, Harriet. She was an AfricanAmerican woman who saved many slaves before the abolition ofslavery.
Harriet was born into slavery and therefore had a very hard
childhood. At the mere age of five she was whipped for things likestealing a lump of sugar. She also worked in the home of a planterwho ordered her into nearby marshes to check the muskrat traps.Even after catching the measles, she was sent into waist- highfreezing water. Harriet spoke of her homesickness during this periodof time. Once, one slave owner threw a two pound weight at her. Thiscaused her a head injury from which she suffered throughout her life.
In 1844, Harriet married a free black man, John Tubman. Right aftertheir marriage, she changed her name from Araminta to Harriet.When he died, she remarried Nelson Davis and adopted a child namedGertie.
Tubman, along with her two brothers escaped from slavery onSeptember 17, 1840. Because of various reasons, her brothers decided togo back, forcing Harriet with them. Soon afterwards, she escapedagain without her brothers. Though her exact route is unknown, shemade use of the Underground Railroad. This system was made up offree blacks, white abolitionists and Christian activists.
In 1859, an abolitionist sold Harriet a piece of land in Auburn, NewYork. There, she delivered her family and friends from slavery. Foryears she took in boarders and relatives, offering a safe place for blackAmericans in the North.
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Harriet’s greatest accomplishment in life was saving over seventyslaves in thirteen missions. This was extremely challenging becausethere were slave catchers and wanted signs all over.
When Harriet was forty-one, the Civil War broke out. For two yearsshe worked for the Union forces, aiding newly liberated slaves andnursing wounded soldiers in Virginia.
In Tubman’s later years she worked to promote women’s suffrage.She worked alongside Susan B. Anthony and Emily Howland. Shemade a speech in New York, speaking in favor of women’s suffrage.She used her actions during the Civil War to show everyone what awoman is capable of doing.
Courage is very strongly portrayed though Harriet’s life. Sheshowed lots of courage at times that nobody under her circumstanceswould feel brave. Although she was horrified when her family wasbroken apart, she worked hard to save money to buy them back. Whenshe was warned that her niece and child were going to be sold, sheorganized a rescue mission and saved them.
“If there’s a will there’s a way”, would be the motto that I wouldapply to Harriet’s life. Even when things seem hopeless, you shouldput in all your talents and strength and do what you can to make the
situation better.
Her life story left a lasting lesson to me by showing that eventhough she was different; she was able to fight for her freedom. I too,am different, I am Jewish, and I should be able to live a lifestyle thatway without any disturbances. In the past there have been times when Jews were oppressed because they were different, such as theHolocaust. We should be able to fight for our freedom of religion/race.
Harriet Tubman died March 10, 1913 at the old age of 93 in Auburn,New York. She was buried with military honors at Fort Hill Cemetery.Many schools and museums were named after her. In 2008, TowsonUniversity named its new campus, Tubman House, in her memory.
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The Underground Railroad
Harriet Tubman helped save slaves throughthe Underground Railroad. This was a network of
secret routes and safe houses that brought slavesto free states, Canada or Mexico. It was called“Underground” because it was secret, and it wascalled “Railroad” because of the code words theyused such as:
*People who helped slaves find the railroad were“agents”*Guides were know as “conductors”*Hiding places were “stations”*“Stationmasters” hid slaves in their homes*Escaped slaves were referred to as “passengers”
or “cargo”*Slaves would obtain a “ticket”
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