Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubmnan and other slaves escape slavery a (Google Images: Harriet Tubman)

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world” (Harriet Tubman). Harriet Tubman had a dream: to escape slavery and help others live their lives to the fullest. She was a trusted and compassionate woman, who was born into slavery in the year 1820. As she got older, she dreamt of escaping slavery and becoming free. She set up thirteen missions to salvage over seventy slaves using a system of antislavery activists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad. Once she was free, she went back to her hometown, and many other places, to help slaves escape through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman deserves to be called a hero because she acted caringly, courageously, and risked her life to improve other slaves’ lives.

Harriet Tubman (Google Images: Harriet Tubman)

Harriet Tubman is a hero because she was a smart, caring, and courageous human being. She demonstrated her courage by escaping slavery, even though others warned her not to: “Tubman’s husband did not encourage her to escape, and even threatened to betray her if she attempted to do so” (Student Resource Center-Gold. Many women would not leave their husbands to reach freedom, but Harriet Tubman did, and she inspired a lot of other slaves to fight for freedom. She risked being arrested and punished to become free. Nothing was going to stand in her way of being free. After gaining her freedom, she dedicated her life to helping others escape slavery: “Harriet Tubman helped several hundred runaway slaves escape through the Underground Railroad, and never lost a passenger.” (Student Resource Center-Gold) Harriet Tubman did not have to go back to slave states such as her home state of Maryland and help others escape. The fact that she did shows how courageous and selfless she was. She could have been killed going back to rescue the other slaves, or forced back into slavery herself.

Harriet Tubman and other slaves escape slavery. (Google Images: Harriet Tubman)

Harriet Tubman risked her life to make other peoples' lives better. “She single-handedly led over 300 slaves to safety in the years 1850-1860.” (Student Resource Center-Gold). After she helped the slaves become free, she helped them find work. Harriet Tubman is an inspirational woman because she helped rescue so many people in need of help without concern for her own safety. For example, she was injured trying to help a slave escape: “When Harriet Tubman was about 13, a fellow slave attempted to escape. The overseer tried to pursue the runaway, but Tubman blocked his path. Enraged, the overseer hurled a two pound weight at the fleeing slave, only to strike Tubman in the forehead.” (Student Resource Center-Gold). Harriet Tubman went through a lot of hard times to help the slaves become free. In 1850, the Fugitive Slave Law was passed, which made it more difficult to help the slaves escape. She managed it by guiding the fugitives farther north into Canada, where slavery was unlawful. Through all of the hard times Tubman had been through, she managed to survive and make other people’s lives worth living.

Harriet Tubman was brave, cared for others, and affected other people in a positive way. She is inspiring because she had a dream, and worked hard to make it come true. She shared her dream of freedom with the others around her, and impacted America greatly. She rescued hundreds of people from slavery and also influenced other people to rescue slaves. Harriet Tubman was a dreamer who had a dream to help change the world, and ended up making a vast difference to everyone around her.

Bontemps, Arna Alexander. "Tubman, Harriet Ross (c. 1820-1913)." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Ed. Suzanne M. Bourgoin. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale Research, 1998. 17 vols. Student Resource Center - Gold. Gale. DEL NORTE HIGH SCHOOL. 14 May. 2010

"Plot Summary: Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad." UXL Junior DISCovering Authors. Online ed. Detroit: UXL, 2003. Student Resource Center - Gold. Gale. DEL NORTE HIGH SCHOOL. 14 May. 2010

“The Life of Harriet Tubman.” New York History Net. New York History Net, 20-02-08. Web. 13 May 2010. http://nyhistory.com/harriettubman/life.htm.

"Tubman, Harriet (1820-1913)." UXL Biographies. Online ed. Detroit: UXL, 2003. Student Resource Center - Gold. Gale. DEL NORTE HIGH SCHOOL. 14 May. 2010.