“The Moses of Her People” Harriet Tubman “The Moses of Her People”

Her Life as a Slave Born as Araminta Ross (1819 or 1820) in Dorchester County, Maryland. Mother’s name: Harriet Greene Father’s name: Ben Ross At age 12, she received a blow to the forehead with an iron weight that nearly killed her. She looked at this scare as a reminder of the harsh conditions of slavery.

Escape to Freedom Her owner lent her out to work on other plantations for a wage. In 1844, she met and married a free African American, John Tubman, while working at the other plantations. A slave being able to marry a free man was virtually unheard of at this time. Once married, all Harriet could think about was freedom.

“Conductor” of the Underground Railroad After her successful escape, Harriet worked in Philadelphia to raise money to help others escape. In order to become a conductor, Harriet had to take an oath of silence to be allowed to learn the routes. 1850: Harriet helped her first slaves escape. 1857: She rescued her elderly parents. Harriet was a conductor for 10 years, rescuing several slaves, with more than 13 trips back into the South. Harriet NEVER lost a passenger.

The Civil War 1861: Civil War breaks out. Abolishment of Slavery was a major issue. Harriet joins the Union Army as a nurse and a scout. She put together a group of spies, who kept officers informed about slaves that might want to join the Union Army.

Settling in Auburn, NY 1850’s: Harriet met U.S. Senator William H. Seward (NY). 1857: Sen. Seward provided a home for Harriet Tubman. 1869: Harriet met, and married, Nelson Davis. She had learned earlier that John Tubman had re-married. 1873: Harriet purchased a home in an auction. 1908: Harriet purchased property adjoining her home and built another home, which became the Home for the Aged. Home for the Aged

Her Legacy 1914: Booker T. Washington delivers dedication to Harriet Tubman Plaque at the Cayuga County Court House. 1953: The Harriet Tubman Home opens. 1990: March 10th is proclaimed Harriet Tubman Day by President George H.W. Bush. 1995: The U.S. Government issued a commemorative postage stamp bearing Harriet’s name and likeness. 1998: First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton, visited the Tubman Home as part of the Save America’s Treasures Tour.

Activity List the feelings that the enslaved Africans may have experienced when reading the following passage from the Declaration of Independence:

Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776 We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. – That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. -That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principals and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Sources Larson, K.C. (2004). Bound For the Promised Land. New York: Ballatine Books. http://www.harriettubman.com/index.html http://www.kyrene.org/schools/brisas/sunda/bhistory/tubman/ stamp_tubman.jpg http://www.math.buffalo.edu/~sww/0history/hwny-tubman.html http://shake-em-up.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/ tubman.51115509_std.jpg