Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman (tumblr.com)

Harriet Tubman was a woman who helped slaves escape slavery and much more. She was a hero that was very brave in risking her life to save other people from unfair treatment. She brought more than 70 slaves to safety and instructed over 50 more who found their way to freedom on their own. In addition, she worked for the Union Army in the Civil War as a cook, spy, and nurse.

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Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in 1820 south of Madison, Maryland. While she was a slave she was hit with a heavy metal weight and suffered severe head injuries. This caused seizures, narcoleptic attacks, headaches, and powerful visionary and dream experiences. Some of them lasted the rest of her life. She could randomly fall asleep during an escape mission! In 1849, Harriet Tubman escaped slavery. She chose to go back to save her family from slavery.After she led her family to safety, she started leading slaves along the Underground Railroad to freedom. If Harriet Tubman had been caught, she would have been whipped or hanged. The Underground Railroad was actually not underground. It was a series of secret routes and safe houses used by black slaves to get to the northern free states or Canada. An estimated 100,000 slaves had escaped slavery through the Underground Railroad by 1850. Harriet Tubman conducted between 11 and 13 escape missions from 1850 to 1860. During that period the amount of slaves being led through the Underground Railroad was at its peak. About 30,000 slaves escaped through the Underground Railroad during it's 20 year peak.

Underground Railroad paths in c. 1860 (rachelgit.wordpress.com)

In addition to leading slaves to freedom, Harriet Tubman worked in the Civil War for the Union Army as a cook, spy , and nurse. In July of 1863, she led Colonial James Montgomery's troops to disrupt Southern supply lines and freed over 750 slaves. Harriet Tubman believed that she was employed by the U.S. Army. She used the money from her first paycheck to build a place where freed black women could do laundry for the soldiers to earn a living.

Harriet Tubman motivated many other people to free slaves and gave many slaves the freedom they deserved. She has inspired many people in the past, present, and will inspire more in the future including me. Her bravery in helping others get their freedom at the risk of her life has inspired me risk some things of mine to help others in their times of need.

Harriet Tubman led many people to freedom and motivated many other to do the same. Her bravery and helping other people escape slavery inspires people today. When she escaped slavery she could have lived a life without slavery but she chose to go back and lead other slaves to freedom. Harriet Tubman changed many slaves lives for the better. She was an amazing hero.