Harriet
Tubman
Born:
March 1822
Died:
March 10, 1913
Most famous for:
Led slaves to freedom
through Underground Railroad
Quote:
“Every great dream begins
with a dreamer.”
©Carina Tornero
Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman was born in 1822 in Dorchester County, Maryland. She was born
as a slave and lived in a one room cabin with her family which included eleven
children. She was treated very poorly and often beaten. She was given no more than
scraps of food to eat and was put to work constantly. When she was thirteen, she got
a terrible head injury that would affect her with dizzy spells the rest of her life.
In 1849, Harriet decided she was tired of being a slave and made plans to escape.
She would use the Underground Railroad, a group of safe homes and hidden places
that helped slaves travel north to freedom. Harriet made the long and terrifying trip
to Pennsylvania and was finally free. She decided that she wanted to help other slaves
gain their freedom as well. In 1850, she became a “conductor” for
the Underground Railroad.
Harriet was a very brave woman. She not only helped her
mother and father escape to freedom, she also helped many others.
Not once did she lose a slave, and she was never caught. Her
courage didn't stop with the Underground Railroad. She also helped
injured soldiers during the Civil War as well as spied on the south to
free more slaves.
Harriet died on March 10, 1913. She is an American icon and a
well-respected individual. Her bravery helped save so many lives
and has inspired generations of Americans.
©Carina Tornero