Download - Harriet Tubman
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