HARRIET TUBMAN & THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

Slavery in the United States Slavery of African Americans in the United States began as early as 1500 when the first African Slaves were brought to the New World by the Spanish. By the time of the Revolutionary War, 10% of the people in America were slaves.

Abolitionist Movement Ever since slaves were captured, they have always tried to escape. The rise of the Abolitionist Movement made escape easier. Abolitionist: Anyone who was against slavery

THE WOMAN CALLED “MOSES” Araminta Harriet Ross Born on 1819 or 1820 in Dorchester County, Maryland Both of Harriet’s parents were slaves. Harriet began work at age six Harriet was a poor housekeeper, so she was sent to work outside in the fields At age seven, Harriet tried to escape. Harriet became tired and hungry and returned to the plantation shortly after her escape. In 1844, she married John Tubman, a free black man. Harriet began to fear that she would be sold South.

THE WOMAN CALLED “MOSES” In 1849, she escapes to the north Put in a wagon and covered with a sack, Harriet was smuggled to Philadelphia, PA. She was aided in her escape by an existing Underground Railroad In 1850, Harriet Tubman starts rescuing slaves via the Underground Railroad Harriet made plans to return to Maryland to help the rest of her family escape. Harriet managed to lead the entire family to freedom, including her aging parents.

MOSES CONT….. In 1958 she buy’s a farm near Auburn, N.Y. She also established the Harriet Tubman home for the elderly She died on March 10, 1913 She was either 93 or 94 years old when she died.

LIFE AS A FUGITIVE Fearing that she would be sold deeper in the south, Harriet ran away. Once she got to the north she decided to help the abolitionist to end slavery. She also became the conductor of the Underground Railroad. She made 19 rescue trips in over 10 years, rescuing over 300 slaves from the southern states, including her 70 year old parents.

FUGITIVE CONT…. She also helped John Brown recruit soldiers for his raid on Harper’s Ferry in She also worked as a nurse, a scout, and a spy for the Union Army during the U. S. Civil War. She did not get paid for her services.

How She Succeeded Harriet used disguises such as she posed as a deranged old man, or as an old woman, to avoid suspicion when traveling in slaves states. She carried sleeping powder to stop babies from crying. She always carried a pistol to prevent her charges from backing out once the journey to freedom had begun. Harriet used songs as with secret codes to communicate Harriet used the North Star to guide her She constantly changed her route and her method of operation.

SUCCESS CONT…. The Spiritual “Go Down Moses” was often used as a signal to let slaves know that she was ready to make another trip. Harriet had a bounty totaling $40,000 on her. She once said “On my Underground Railroad, I never ran my train off the track, and I never lost a passenger.”

Wanted!

THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD This was a movement to help escaped slaves make their way from the slave-owning southern states up through the northern states, and eventually into Canada. This was accomplished by secretly transporting slaves from one safe house to another, steadily moving north until freedom was secured.

MAP OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

A Nation Devided By 1861, the issue of slavery divided the entire nation. The Civil War had begun

AREAS COVERED The Underground Railroad stretched from Kentucky and Virginia across Ohio & Indiana. In the Northerly direction, it stretched from Maryland, across Pennsylvania & into New York & through New England The Underground Railroad helped over ~ 100,000 slaves escape.

ROCHESTER CITY & AIDS FOR FUGITIVE SLAVES Rochester city and surrounding area played a leading role in the Underground Railroad movement, because it was conveniently located on the Canadian border. Became the last stop for fugitive slaves. Members of the Underground Railroad that aided fugitive slaves were prominent citizens with liberal minded views, Quakers, and ex-slaves, such as Harriet Tubman, who worked to liberate those who where not free. These people often put lanterns in the window as a signal to let slaves no that, that place was a safe-house.

SAFE-HOUSE

Interesting Facts Quilts were used as codes to help escaping slaves find their way to an Underground Railroad contact.

SIGNIFICANT FIGURES & SAFE- HOUSES Harriet Tubman James Fairfield—pretended to be a slave trader. Thomas Garrett-A Quaker business man who helped over 2700 slaves. William Still-former slave who purchase his own freedom & then became an abolitionists Frederick Douglass-African American abolitionist John Parker-Son of a white businessman and a slave; helped over 400 slaves. The Henry Quinby farm David H. Richardson’s farm The Warrant farm in Brighton The old Frederick Douglass home near Highland Park A cluster of houses where numerous Quakers lived. That is now the area where the war Memorial building is. Harvey Humphrey estate. *All these stations are located in Rochester.

Harriet’s Later Years After the war ended, Harriet continued to help people. Harriet fought for the rights of freed slaves and opened a home for the poor.

Harriet Remembered Harriet died in She was 93 years old. Today, many tourists still visit her home in New York.

Comprehension Why did Harriet begin her work on the Underground Railroad? About how many slaves is Harriet believed to have helped to freedom? Name three interesting facts about Harriet Tubman.