Harriet Tubman: Conductor of the Underground Railroad “On my Underground Railroad, I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger” (Petry, 15). The story of Harriet Tubman began when she was born into slavery in 1820 on the plantation of Edward Brodas. Tubman was born on a plantation on the eastern Maryland shore during a time that was being plagued with economic uncertainty. More slaves were living with increased anxiety during this time. Along with the economic hardships, slaves were being sold to traders further south leaving their families behind (Petry, 17). Many of the slaves that lived on Brodas’ plantation lived on the words that they would be freed when he died. Many of the stories written describe Harriet Tubman’s early years as the ones of a typical slave life. Harriet’s mother, who was known as Old Rit, was one on those promised freedom when Brodas died along with her children (Petry, 28). Old Rit had ten children not including Harriet. Like any mother who had children in that time line, Old Rit worried that her children would be sold into slavery before Brodas died still leaving them as slaves once she was freed (Petry, 36). There was talk amongst the slaves that a movement was taking place that would restrict their freedom. Denmark Vesey, who was already a free slave, was planning a rebellion when he was caught and hanged (Petry, 42). When Harriet was a mere six years of age, she was told by the over looker of the children that she would
The woman known as Harriet Ross Tubman was born into slavery in 1825, in Dorchester County, Maryland. She was born as Araminta Ross, and nicknamed “Minty” by her parents. Harriet would later change her name from Araminta to Harriet in memory of her mother, Harriet Greene, as was custom on the plantations. She had 4 brothers Ben, Robert Henry and Moses. Harriet also had 4 sisters, Linah, Mariah, Rachel and Soph. Harriet was raised in harsh conditions and under strict rules. Several of Harriet’s siblings were sold to out-of-state buyers, while she was “loaned” out to another plantation at the age of 5 or 6 to provide care for an infant. While providing care, one of her duties was to ensure the baby did not cry at night. When the baby would cry at night, she was whipped around the neck. These were the first of Harriet’s slavery scars, which remained for her entire life. She later became to sick to work and was returned home, after recovering, she was again loaned out to another plantation where she worked as a nursemaid. She had many jobs as a slave, including collecting muskrats from traps, a job she had to complete despite contracting measles. At
No way was I going to be tricked into doing the work for someone else’s greediness.
The mastermind behind the Underground Railroad that freed nearly one hundred slaves was, in fact, born into slavery. While slavery shaped and toughened this woman, it certainly did not define her. Even a century after her death, Harriet Tubman’s presence prevails due to her fearless and determined character, her contributions to the abolition movement, and her courage in the face of adversity that still inspires us today. From an early age, Harriet advocated for herself and her values; family being a predominant theme. NationalParks.org states, “By the age of six, Tubman was separated from her mother.
Harriet Tubman is a well-known figure for helping runaway slaves, but there are many other things Tubman did in her lifetime for the movement that many don’t know about. Throughout her life, she worked as a conductor of the underground railroad, a spy in the civil war, and a part of the women's suffrage movement. Afterwards, she worked to help children and the elderly. Harriet Tubman’s experiences and contributions impacted the abolitionist movement by helping people escape from slavery, overcoming the challenges of getting her group caught, and inspiring others to overcome their own obstacles. After Harriet Tubman escaped her plantation in Dorchester County, Maryland, she did not stay in Philadelphia; she came back to bring others out of slavery.
African Americans faced unbelievable hardships in the South during the 1800’s, and as tensions grew throughout the country surrounding the issue of slavery, many people, called abolitionists, opposed slavery and wanted to eliminate it. One of the most famous abolitionists of the time was a former slave named Harriet Tubman. Tubman was born into slavery, and after escaping in her adulthood, returned South in order to rescue enslaved friends and family several times using the network known as the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman exhibited immense courage and contributed greatly to the abolitionist movement in her time, and later became a symbol of American freedom and bravery. Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in Maryland in 1822.
Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in Dorchester County, Maryland. Her birth name was Araminta Ross. She had ten brothers and sisters and as a child worked as a nursemaid for a small baby. She had to stay up all night long to make sure that the baby would not cry and wake up the mother. If Harriet ever fell asleep the mother would whip her. This experience is what made Tubman want to fight for her freedom. She also went through situations that scarred her for life. One of them was when she was told to help punish another young slave because he had gone to the store without permission. She refused to help. The young slave returned home and started to run away so the owner threw an iron weight at him. He missed, and the weight hit Tubman and
Imagine living in the 1800s as an African American slave with little to no freedom, these times were not easy and many slaves during the time had to learn how to live in rough conditions. Slaves are people that are forced to work against their will and are often seen as property. Although slaves were forced to work, some of them tried to escape slavery in order to gain freedom, these slaves were referred to as runaway or fugitive slaves. There were many runaway slaves, but one of the most influential and involved fugitive slaves was an African American woman named Harriet Tubman. Harriet Tubman helped the country and numerous other slaves escape, risking her life and getting re-enslaved, and her bravery and leadership inspired others in helping
Tubman was a very successful abolitionist; she led hundreds of slaves to freedom and never lost a single follower nor was she ever caught. When Tubman was born around the year 1820 she was born into slavery, both her mother and father were slaves. In the year 1849, Harriet and two of her brothers had fled from slavery leaving behind the rest of her family. She made the decision to flee after the death of her owner in 1849. Her brothers made the decision to go back to the plantation, while she refused to return to being a slave she decided to make sure her brothers made it home safely. She then proceeded to make her way to the “free states” in order to make sure that she was free. After making her way to the northern states, she started to make her way back down to the slave states to where she
Harriet Tubman escaped slavery to become a leading person who advocated and supported the abolition of slavery. Harriet tubman made use of the network known as the underground railroad to travel nearly 90 miles to philadelphia. Harriet Tubman thought then rather than remaining in the safety of the north, Tubman made it her mission to rescue her family and others living in slavery. Harriet tubman had valiant ,hardworking,resourceful,unwavering,served others without rewards remained strong in the midst of a pain and motivated others. Harriet tubman journey to freedom was never easy as dangers were always near by in addition to the rough road that the fugitives had to travel on. Harriet motivated her fellow fugitives slaves in her own unique way .Harriet tubman had many traits ,Brave,inspirational,confident,intelligent,determined,stubborn.The trait that was most beneficial was intelligent.Harriet tubman had a trait that was harmful was brave. Harriet Tubman didn't make any mistakes or decisions but however she stole from the rich and gave to the poor. Harriet Tubman however never got caught. Harriet Tubman believes mistakes. Apparently Harriet tubman was to brave to think that she might not get caught.Harriet tubman always believed in herself. Harriet tubman or in the the slaves she guided were never
Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in Dorchester County Maryland in 1820. She was called Araminta Harriet Ross she was one of the 11 children of Benjamin and Harriet Green Ross. At the age of twelve Harriet Tubman was instructed to tie up a fellow slave for a whipping. Harriet Tubman refused to tie up the slave and in Harriet’s masters rage he threw a two pound weight at Harriet’s head. Harriet Tubman was in a coma for weeks and there was a dent in her forehead for the rest of her life. This resulted in headaches and episodes of narcolepsy all throughout her life. Harriet Tubman’s mother was freed from slavery by a previous owner which in result also made Harriet free. Harriet Tubman was advised not to go to court because of how long ago the freeing of her mother was. Harriet Tubman married John Tubman a free black man who lived near the Brodas Planation on which Harriet lived in 1844. Even though she was married to a free man she still was a slave
Harriet’s first work as a slave began when she was six when a man named Mr. Brodas hired her out to a woman named Mrs. Cook who was a weaver. Harriet helped her wind the yarn because the air had fuzz and lint. Harriet couldn’t concentrate and Mrs. Cook got mad. The next woman Harriet worked for when she was seven was named Miss Susan. Harriet Tubman had to watch Miss Susan’s baby. If there were the slightest cry from the baby Miss Susan would whip Harriet. Harriet had trouble staying awake and if she fell asleep the baby would begin to cry. After this, she was hired back to Mr.
The second contribution of Harriet Tubman is that she was a conductor in the Underground Railroad, a network of antislavery activists who helped slaves escape from the south. On her first trip in 1850, Tubman bought her sister and her sister’s two children out of slavery in Maryland. In 1851, she helped her brother out of slavery, and in 1857 she returned to Maryland to guide her old parents back to freedom. Overall Tubman made about nineteen trips to the south and guided about three hundred slaves to freedom. But during those travels Tubman faced great danger in order not to get caught she would use disguises and carries a sleeping powder to stop babies from crying and also always carried a pistol in case one of the people back out once the journey has begun( Strawberry 1).
(Harriet Tubman was originally born Araminta Ross and then later changed her first name to Harriet, after her mother.) In 1849, Tubman ran away in fear that she, along with many other slaves on the plantation were going to be sold off. Harriet Tubman left on foot. Luckily, Tubman was given some assistance from a white woman, and was able to set off on her journey to freedom. Tubman used the North Star in order to find her direction during the night, slowly inching her way to Pennsylvania. Once Tubman had reached Pennsylvania, she found a job and began to save her money. The following year after arriving to Philadelphia, Tubman returned to Maryland and to lead her family to freedom. Among the people she took was her sister and her sister’s two children. Tubman was able to make the same dangerous trips months later back to the South to rescue her brother and two other men that her brother knew. On Tubman’s third return to the South to rescue her husband, she found that he had found another wife. Undeterred by her husband’s actions, she rescued other slaves wanting freedom and lead them Northward.
Harriet Tubman 's background heavily impacted her beliefs as an adult. Harriet Tubman was born around the year 1820 in Dorchester County, Maryland. “She was the child of Benjamin Ross, and her mother, Harriet Greene. Her master 's name at the time was Edward Brodas” (Lesson). She was born into slavery and as soon as she could talk and walk, she was put to work. She worked as a house servant when only 6 years old and started to work on the fields at the age of 13 (ELibrary). Harriet was very uneducated and never learned to read or write. She learned to be strong and independent at a very young age because of the way she was treated by her parents and owner (Social Leaders). When Harriet entered her teen years, she refused to tie up a runaway slave when her owner ordered her to. Her disobedience angered her owner and he then threw a heavy weight
Harriet Tubman was born into slavery and had eight siblings. She was a domestic servant but preferred to work out in the fields to escape her overbearing mistresses and the the sexual advances of her masters. but field work did not entirely spare her from pain