Harriet Tubman

Throughout the 19th century slavery was prevalent in the United States. African Americans were treated harshly and unequally and struggled tremendously to achieve social and political equality. The North and South fought back and fourth about free and slave territories which eventually led to the civil war. Harriet Tubman was an African American woman born into slavery. She was an abolitionist,humanitarian and Union spy, who desperately believed that all slaves should be free. Tubman took extreme risks in trying to get slaves to safety through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman’s contributions as the conductor of the Underground Railroad and her role in the Civil War had crucial influence in the emancipation of slaves. Her perseverance helped lead to social equality between Whites and African Americans and changed the history of the United States. Harriet Tubman was an American icon who’s bravery and heroic actions led to great impacts throughout America.

By the beginning of the 19th Century slavery in the United States was established. In the South slaves took up about one-third of the population. Most slaves lived with their owners on large farms or small plantations. It was common for a master to own a little less than 50 slaves. Slave owners treated their slaves terribly; trying to make their slaves completely dependent on them, and by establishing a set of codes that restricted their behavior and movement. Rebellious slaves were brutally punished and beaten. The most common punishments were whippings, executions, and rapes. Other punishments consisted of shackling, hanging, burning, mutilation, branding, and imprisonment. These punishments occurred mostly if a slave acted out of order, also master’s abused their sl...

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...called The Woman’s Era. Throughout the United States Tubman became more of an American icon and was included in various newspapers that reported her service to the nation.

Harriet Tubman’s contributions to society became widely known and she was well-respected while she was alive and even after she died. She inspired African Americans who were struggling for equality and freedom and was highly appreciated by political leaders. When she died she was buried at Fort Hill Cemetery in her home town Auburn. The city honored her life and showed their appreciate of her by putting a plaque on the courthouse. At her dedication ceremony Booker T. Washington delivered the address. Harriet Tubman was celebrated after he death in ways that included naming schools in her honor, and creating the Harriet Tubman home and the Harriet Tubman Museum to serve as monuments to her life.