Harriet Tubman
Leader of the Underground Railroad
Early Years
Harriet Tubman was born in March of 1822 in Dorchester, Maryland. She was one of 9 children born to Harriet "rit" Green and Ben Ross. When she was 12 she was struck by a weight on her head for not following the masters orders. Harriet married a free black slave John Tubman in 1844
Accomplishments
Led hundreds of slaves to freedom in the Underground Railroad. In April of 1858 Harriet met John Brown and they worked together in the Underground Railroad. During the Civil War she worked for the Union army as a cook and nurse. She helped organize and start the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.
Contributions to Change
She was one of the first documented African Americans to be helped by white people. Harriet risked her life by going back to free more slaves in the South.She rescued over 700 slaves during a battle in Tennessee during 1863.
Interesting Facts
She earned the name Moses for her leadership in helping slaves. Two of her grandparents were in the Slave Trade in 18th Century. She was an advocate for women's rights. She was buried with full military honors. The first slave she rescued to freedom was her niece. By 1856 her capture would have brought $40,000 to the South.
Other
She called the North the promise land and would follow the North Star as direction to get to Canada. Harriet never had any children. She rescued slaves from the South for 15 years. Harriet spent her last years in a home that she established called the Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged and Indigent Negro.