Harriet Tubman Abolitionist

Harriet Tubman became recognized as a crucial figure of the Underground Railroad with her dedication and work as a abolitionist. Born a slave on Maryland’s eastern shore, Tubman worked hard and endured brutal treatment. As with any other slave, she felt the inextinguishable desire to be free. In 1849, Harriet Tubman escaped from slavery, leaving her family behind. Despite being able to flee to Canada and be a free woman, Tubman stayed in the states, making over eighteen journeys back to the South to help other slaves escape from the shackles of slavery. She had the courage, will, and determination, to go back to slave country time and time again to escort fugitives through the Underground Railroad, a network of secret paths formed by abolitionists.

As a young child, Garrett was exposed to anti-slavery. His family hid runaway slaves in the farmhouse located in Delaware County. His childhood experiences of dealing with fugitives shaped the rest of his life. Later on, the Quaker joined the Pennsylvania Abolition Society. After starting his own family, Garrett used his home in Wilmington as a station for the Underground Railroad, providing food and shelter for runaways. His station on the eastern line was the last stop of the Underground Railroad before fugitives could flee to Pennsylvania which had abolished slavery in 1780. He became a key station master, helping over 2,000 runaways continue their journey away from the southern states. Like Harriet Tubman, Garrett had a bounty of around $10,000 above his head. In the Trial of 1848, Garrett became charged of aiding fugitive slaves. He was brought before a Federal Court and openly announced that he was helping runaways and would continue to do so. Garrett received a heavy fine of $5,400 leaving him bankrupt, but returned to his work as an abolitionist for another forty years. Garrett’s strong commitment to his efforts opposing slavery acquired him the acknowledgement as a respected