“I was the conductor of the Underground Railroad for eight years, and I can say what most conductors can’t say — I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger.” - Harriet Tubman
Guided/Essential Questions:
- Why is an action an important step in activism?
- What actions did Harriet Tubman take to create better futures for herself and others?
Vocab to know and define:
- Servitude
- Plantation
- Slavery
- Conductor
- Underground Railroad
- Civil War
Intro & a Life in Slavery
Born into slavery sometime between 1820 and 1822, lived on a plantation in Dorchester County, Maryland with eight other siblings. By the time she was five, she was rented out to her master ‘s neighbor and served there for many years as a servant. But even at an early age, she did what she could to help others around her. When she was 12 she suffered major head trauma when she tried to help another enslaved person who was being beaten by a plantation owner. Throughout her younger years, she was faced with the constant trauma of seeing her sibling being taken away, families torn apart, and endless violence among the enslaved.
Iron willed and with such strength that she could do any job that of an enslaved man could do, Harriet’s determination and hope were just as strong. As the country grew more and more divided and a path towards Civil War loomed, Harriet’s efforts in freeing the enslaved never wavered. Her call to action is truly remarkable and the lengths that she took to find freedom and help others get freedom could have ended her life. Without her actions, thousands of slaves would not have been freed.
In 1849 she made the daring escape without her husband who was not as willing. She ran night and day. On foot or with other freed people. Through a series of networks and ‘stations’, both white and black people helped and encouraged her to safety despite a handsome reward to bring her back to the plantation. Once she reached Pennsylvania, she was finally freed. But this was just the start of her story.
“The Moses of Her People”
Over the next 13 years, with a pistol by her side and bloodhounds behind her, she made the trip 13 times to the eastern shore of Maryland to rescue other enslaved people and various family members. Courage isn't a bold enough word to describe her heroism. Stories of Harriet running for days on end, miles through rough terrains and bad weather, even hiding in plain sight as an elderly woman to get to her destinations. She fiercely believed in either having liberty or death.
Civil War & Legacy
Her time during the Civil War was nothing short of amazing as well. Enlisting in the army in South Carolina. During her time, she fought on the frontlines, cared for the wounded in the war hospitals, fed the troops, crossed through enemy lines with a group of spies, and would become the first woman to lead an expedition to free some 800 slaves.
While her activism around equality would never end, she would later also join Susan B. Anthony in helping move forward women’s rights. By the time of her death in 1913 she was over 90 years old and lived a life few could live up to. Never once running her train off the track and never once, losing a passenger.
Further investigation activities: Using resources to gain a deeper insight and broader perspective
- Research and create either an online or paper version of the Underground Railroad with captions that describe major places or events.
- Read, discuss, and analyze several of Harriet Tubman’s personal experiences and memoirs.
