Harriet Tubman
Sydni Binford 5th period
Brief Background
Harriet Tubman is seen as one of the greatest American Historical figures because of her courageous actions taking part in the Underground Railroad in the 1850s. She would take countless number of trips traveling the railroad bringing slaves to freedom. She was known as the "conductor" of the railroad because she knew all the routes to free territory. Even though Tubman knew she was risking her life every time she set foot in the railroad, she was willing to take that chance to save the lives of others.
Harriet Tubman
Tubman was born into slavery in 1819 being raised under harsh conditions, and beaten brutally even as a small child. She escaped in 1849, and realized she needed to help others become free; therefore she became apart of the Underground Railroad for slaves.
Traveling the Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad worked mostly like a regular railroad, transporting people from one place to another. Once slaves would manage to escape and make contact with sympathizers, then he or she would become part of the Underground Railroad traveling to free land.
Tubman's Accomplishments
Once Tubman escaped to Philadelphia in1849, she got a job where she saved her pay to help free slave. In 1850, Tubman helped her first slaves escape to the north using the Underground Railroad. During the Civil War she also became a nurse caring for wounded warriors. Overall Tubman was a brave women always willing to help others.
America the Story of Us: Harriet Tubman | History
Harriet Tubman and Civil Disobedience
Harriet Tubman represents ideas found in Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience" through her actions taking part in the Underground Railroad. Just like Thoreau, Tubman did not want to be controlled over by a government or some type of authority. They both saw "the right of a revolution; that is, the right to refuse allegiance, and to resist, the government" and they also felt that Americans should be free and live equally in life learning to control their own problems (Thoreau). Therefore, Tubman became an active member of the Underground Railroad helping salves, just life herself, travel to free land where they could one day grow into a life of happiness, and make their own decisions about where they will go.