The Life of Harriet Tubman

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      Before the Civil war, the government stopped slaves from being shipped from different countries to America. After that, the plantation owners who had slaves sold some of their slaves to other white men. Because of this families were separated. Free people and former slaves formed the Underground Railroad to help those slaves escape thier owners. One of the Undergound Railroad's most famous Conductors was Harriet Tubman. 

       Harriet Tubman was born in Dorchester County, Maryland in March of 1822. Her birth name was Araminta "Minty" Harriet Ross Green. She was born into slavery to her parents Harriet and Ben Green. At the age of seven or eight she was hired by the Cook family. At the Cooks she took care of sheep and weaved wool. One day Mrs. Cook got angry at her for making a mistake in her weaving process. Mrs. Cook whipped her so hard that Harriet became very sick and had to go back home. When Harriet recoved, she was hired by Mrs. Susan, where her work was housekeeping and taking care of the baby. At Mrs.Susan's she ran away but came back cold and hungry. Then she left Mrs. Susan's and returned to her family. When she was thirteen, she was hit in the head with a two pound wieght because a slave tried to run away and his owner tried to hit the slave with the weight but hit Harriet instead.

       In 1844 Harriet married John Tubman at age 25. In 1851, she left John and went to the north with two of her brothers. That year her brothers returned to their home but she kept going. At age fifty, Harriet married Nelson Davis in 1869 and they adopted one child, Gertie Davis.

      During her time in the North, Harriet became involved with the Underground Railroad. She heard that her niece was about to be sold deeper in the south; Harriet came and took her niece and more family members to the North. After that, she made at least nineteen trips to free slaves. She freed 300-400 slaves during those trips.

      During the Civil war in April 12, 1861; Harriet was a cook, a nurse, and a spy for the Union army. Sadly, she died on March 10, 1913; when she was ninety-three. Harriet Tubman helped slaves get their freedom and became a famous person in American history because of rescuing slaves.  

Information found:

"Harriet Tubman"

2015    http://www.biography.com/people/harriet-tubman-9511430

"Underground Railroad"

2015    http://www.pbs.org/undergound-railroad

"Courage to Run"    Lawton, Wendy

        Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2009

By:

Sarah E. Camp