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Harriet Tubman's early life accomplishments
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Harriet Tubman was born to enslaved parents in Dorchester County, Maryland, and originally named Araminta Harriet Ross. Her mother, Harriet “Rit” Green, was owned by Mary Pattison Brodess. Her father, Ben Ross, was owned by Anthony Thompson, who eventually married Mary Brodess. Araminta, or “Minty,” was one of nine children born to Rit and Ben between 1808 and 1832. While the year of Araminta’s birth is unknown, it probably occurred between 1820 and 1825. Minty’s early life was full of hardship. Mary Brodess’ son Edward sold three of her sisters to distant plantations, severing the family. When a trader from Georgia approached Brodess about buying Rit’s youngest son, Moses, Rit successfully resisted the further fracturing of her family, setting a powerful example for her young daughter. Physical violence was a part of daily …show more content…
life for Tubman and her family. The violence she suffered early in life caused permanent physical injuries. Harriet later recounted a particular day when she was lashed five times before breakfast. She carried the scars for the rest of her life. The most severe injury occurred when Tubman was an adolescent. Sent to a dry-goods store for supplies, she encountered a slave who had left the fields without permission. The man’s overseer demanded that Tubman help restrain the runaway. When Harriet refused, the overseer threw a two-pound weight that struck her in the head. Tubman endured seizures, severe headaches and narcoleptic episodes for the rest of her life. She also experienced intense dream states, which she classified as religious experiences. The line between freedom and slavery was hazy for Tubman and her family. Harriet Tubman’s father, Ben, was freed from slavery at the age of 45, as stipulated in the will of a previous owner. Nonetheless, Ben had few options but to continue working as a timber estimator and foreman for his former owners. Although similar manumission stipulations applied to Rit and her children, the individuals who owned the family chose not to free them. Despite his free status, Ben had little power to challenge their decision. By the time Harriet reached adulthood, around half of the African-American people on the eastern shore of Maryland were free. It was not unusual for a family to include both free and enslaved people, as did Tubman’s immediate family. In 1844, Harriet married a free black man named John Tubman. Little is known about John Tubman or his marriage to Harriet. Any children they might have had would have been considered enslaved, since the mother’s status dictated that of any offspring. Araminta changed her name to Harriet around the time of her marriage, possibly to honor her mother. Escape from Slavery and Abolitionism Harriet Tubman escaped from slavery in 1849, fleeing to Philadelphia. Tubman decided to escape following a bout of illness and the death of her owner in 1849. Tubman feared that her family would be further severed, and feared for own her fate as a sickly slave of low economic value. She initially left Maryland with two of her brothers, Ben and Henry, on September 17, 1849. A notice published in the Cambridge Democrat offered a $300 reward for the return of Araminta (Minty), Harry and Ben. Once they had left, Tubman’s brothers had second thoughts and returned to the plantation. Harriet had no plans to remain in bondage. Seeing her brothers safely home, she soon set off alone for Pennsylvania. Tubman made use of the network known as the Underground Railroad to travel nearly 90 miles to Philadelphia. She crossed into the free state of Pennsylvania with a feeling of relief and awe, and recalled later: “When I found I had crossed that line, I looked at my hands to see if I was the same person. There was such a glory over everything; the sun came like gold through the trees, and over the fields, and I felt like I was in Heaven.” Harriet Tubman, circa 1900. (Photo by Ann Ronan Pictures/Print Collector/Getty Images) Harriet Tubman, circa 1900. (Photo by Ann Ronan Pictures/Print Collector/Getty Images) Rather than remaining in the safety of the North, Tubman made it her mission to rescue her family and others living in slavery. In December 1850, Tubman received a warning that her niece Kessiah was going to be sold, along with her two young children. Kessiah’s husband, a free black man named John Bowley, made the winning bid for his wife at an auction in Baltimore. Harriet then helped the entire family make the journey to Philadelphia. This was the first of many trips by Tubman, who earned the nickname “Moses” for her leadership. Over time, she was able to guide her parents, several siblings and about 60 others to freedom. One family member who declined to make the journey was Harriet’s husband, John, who preferred to stay in Maryland with his new wife. The dynamics of escaping slavery changed in 1850, with the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law. This law stated that escaped slaves could be captured in the North and returned to slavery, leading to the abduction of former slaves and free blacks living in Free States. Law enforcement officials in the North were compelled to aid in the capture of slaves, regardless of their personal principles. In response to the law, Tubman re-routed the Underground Railroad to Canada, which prohibited slavery categorically. In December 1851, Tubman guided a group of 11 fugitives northward.
There is evidence to suggest that the party stopped at the home of abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass. In April 1858, Tubman was introduced to the abolitionist John Brown, who advocated the use of violence to disrupt and destroy the institution of slavery. Tubman shared Brown’s goals and at least tolerated his methods. Tubman claimed to have had a prophetic vision of Brown before they met. When Brown began recruiting supporters for an attack on slaveholders at Harper’s Ferry, he turned to “General Tubman” for help. After Brown’s subsequent execution, Tubman praised him as a martyr. Harriet Tubman remained active during the Civil War. Working for the Union Army as a cook and nurse, Tubman quickly became an armed scout and spy. The first woman to lead an armed expedition in the war, she guided the Combahee River Raid, which liberated more than 700 slaves in South Carolina. Harriet Tubman - Union Spy (TV-PG; 1:44) During the Civil War Harriet Tubman volunteered to be a spy for the Union and successfully aided the Union in its effort to win the war. Later
Life In early 1859, abolitionist Senator William H. Seward sold Tubman a small piece of land on the outskirts of Auburn, New York. The land in Auburn became a haven for Tubman’s family and friends. Tubman spent the years following the war on this property, tending to her family and others who had taken up residence there. In 1869, she married a Civil War veteran named Nelson Davis. In 1874, Harriet and Nelson adopted a baby girl named Gertie. Despite Harriet’s fame and reputation, she was never financially secure. Tubman’s friends and supporters were able to raise some funds to support her. One admirer, Sarah H. Bradford, wrote a biography entitled Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman, with the proceeds going to Tubman and her family. Harriet continued to give freely in spite of her economic woes. In 1903, she donated a parcel of her land to the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Auburn. The Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged opened on this site in 1908. (Photo: Getty Images) (Photo: Getty Images) As Tubman aged, the head injuries sustained early in her life became more painful and disruptive. She underwent brain surgery at Boston’s Massachusetts General Hospital to alleviate the pains and "buzzing" she experienced regularly. Tubman was eventually admitted into the rest home named in her honor. Surrounded by friends and family members, Harriet Tubman died of pneumonia in 1913. Harriet Tubman, widely known and well-respected while she was alive, became an American icon in the years after she died. A survey at the end of the 20th century named her as one of the most famous civilians in American history before the Civil War, third only to Betsy Ross and Paul Revere. She continues to inspire generations of Americans struggling for civil rights with her bravery and bold action. Harriet Tubman - Statue in Harlem (TV-PG; 3:04) Artist Alison Saar created a memorial statue to Harriet Tubman in Harlem to honor all that she did and the many lives she saved. When she died, Tubman was buried with military honors at Fort Hill Cemetery in Auburn. The city commemorated her life with a plaque on the courthouse. Tubman was celebrated in many other ways throughout the nation in the 20th century. Dozens of schools were named in her honor, and both the Harriet Tubman Home in Auburn and the Harriet Tubman Museum in Cambridge serve as monuments to her life. Harriet Tubman on the $20 Bill In April 2016, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that Harriet Tubman will replace Andrew Jackson on the center of a new $20 bill. The announcement came after the Treasury Department received a groundswell of public comments, following Women on 20s’ campaign calling for a notable American woman to appear on U.S. currency. “Secretary Lew’s choice of the freed slave and freedom fighter Harriet Tubman to one day feature on the $20 note is an exciting one, especially given that she emerged as the choice of more than half a million voters in our online poll last Spring,” Women on 20s stated on its website. “Not only did she devote her life to racial equality, she fought for women’s rights alongside the nation’s leading suffragists.” In June 2015, Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew was criticized for saying that it was likely a woman would appear on the $10 bill, which features a portrait of Alexander Hamilton, the influential founding father who found renewed popularity because of the hit Broadway musical Hamilton. The decision to have Tubman replace Jackson, a slaveholder who played a role in the removal of Native Americans from their land, was widely praised. Videos Harriet Tubman - Union Spy Harriet Tubman - Union Spy (TV-PG; 1:44) Harriet Tubman - Statue in Harlem Harriet Tubman - Statue in Harlem (TV-PG; 3:04) Related Videos Ida B. Wells - Women's Rights Ida B. Wells - Women's Rights (TV-PG; 1:26) Frederick Douglass - Path to Freedom Frederick Douglass - Path to Freedom (TV-14; 1:29) Abraham Lincoln - African American Soldiers Abraham Lincoln - African American Soldiers (TV-14; 1:29) Ida B. Wells - Civil Rights Pioneer Ida B. Wells - Civil Rights Pioneer (TV-PG; 1:48) Rosa Parks - Civil Rights Pioneer Rosa Parks - Civil Rights Pioneer (TV-14; 1:55) Sojourner Truth - Abolitionist and Feminist Sojourner Truth - Abolitionist and Feminist (TV-PG; 1:58) Frederick Douglass - From Slave to Soldier Frederick Douglass - From Slave to Soldier (TV-14; 2:01) Frederick Douglass - Impassioned Speaker Frederick Douglass - Impassioned Speaker (TV-14; 2:23) Frederick Douglass - Meet John Brown Frederick Douglass - Meet John Brown (TV-14; 2:24) Abraham Lincoln - The Emancipation Proclamation Abraham Lincoln - The Emancipation Proclamation (TV-14; 2:26) Sojourner Truth - Mini Biography Sojourner Truth - Mini Biography Frederick Douglass - A Child No More Frederick Douglass - A Child No More (TV-14; 2:43) Rosa Parks - Legacy Rosa Parks - Legacy (TV-14; 3:03) Frederick Douglass - Mini Biography Frederick Douglass - Mini Biography (TV-14; 3:27) Nat Turner - Slave Rebellion Nat Turner - Slave Rebellion (TV-PG; 3:35) Frederick Douglass - Full Episode Frederick Douglass - Full Episode (TV-14; 46:33) Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us! Citation Information Article Title Harriet Tubman Biography Author Biography.com Editors Website Name The Biography.com website URL http://www.biography.com/people/harriet-tubman-9511430 Access Date April 25, 2016 Publisher A&E Television Networks Original Published Date n/a 14.4K SHARES 11.1K 0 0 MORE STORIES FROM BIO Email address BIOGRAPHY Susan B. Anthony PUBLISHER, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST, EDITOR, WOMEN'S RIGHTS ACTIVIST, JOURNALIST (1820–1906) BIOGRAPHY Fannie Lou Hamer CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST, PHILANTHROPIST (1917–1977) SEE MORE About Contact Us Advertise Privacy Terms of Use © 2016 Bio and the Bio logo are registered trademarks of A
During the mid-1800s, separation in America between the North and the South became prevalent, especially over the idea of slavery, which eventually led to the Civil War. Women did not have much power during this time period, but under the stress and shortages of the War, they became necessary to help in fighting on and off the battlefields, such as by becoming nurses, spies, soldiers, and abolitionists (Brown). Many women gave so much assistance and guidance, that they made lasting impacts on the War in favor of who they were fighting for. Three inspiring and determined women who made huge impacts on contributing to the American Civil War are Rose O’Neal Greenhow, who worked as a spy for the Confederacy leading to multiple victories, Clara Barton, who worked as a nurse, a soldier, and formed the American Red Cross to continue saving lives, and Harriet Tubman, who conducted the Underground Railroad sending slaves to freedom, which enabled them and their actions to be remembered forever (Brown).
Consequently, Harriet Tubman was born a slave into a slave family. As a slave, at five years old, Tubman was "rented" to families where she was put to work winding yarn, checking animal traps, cleaning the houses and nursing children among many more laborious tasks. When she was older, she decided she prefered to work outside of the house as opposed to laboring inside the house with domestic chores. As a teenager, she would upset her owners and often was reprimanded and sent home because of her rebellious attitude. Later on in Tubman’s life, she married a free man and also found out that her mother was freed by her owner, but her mother was never informed of her freedom. This directly affected Tubman because her mother’s freedom also meant that Tubman was b...
The first contribution of Harriet Tubman is that she served as a spy for the union army, because she wanted freedom for all the people who were forced into slavery not just the people she could help by herself. One day Tubman took one of the most dangerous and dramatic roles she helped Colonel James Montgomery plan to free slaves from a plantation along the Combahee River in South Carolina. They helped seven hundred and fifty Negroes into the free lines. The river is now known as the “Jordan River” it is the symbol of bondage and freedom. It is also a sign of significance of the military in America...
Many people do not know what Harriet Tubman’s greatest achievement was. Harriet Tubman was born in Dorchester County, Maryland, around 1822. When she was born she was first named Araminta Ross and was like every other African-American, born into slavery. In 1844 Araminta married a free black man named John Tubman and later changed her name to Harriet Tubman, her first name from her mother and her last name from her husband. Five years later Harriet’s master died, which gave Harriet a decision, whether she could be free or dead.
demanded her voice to be heard. Because she believed every person had a right to be free, Harriet Tubman risked her life to save others.
One of Harriet Tubman’s important achievement was being a nurse in the civil war.In document D it States how she would help heal sick solider during the war.These soliders were survivors of the 54th Massachusetts volunteers. She would bathe the wounds of the hurt soldiers.During this time she never
Allen, Thomas B., and Carla Bauer. Harriet Tubman, Secret Agent: How Daring Slaves and Free Blacks Spied for the Union during the Civil War. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic, 2006. Print.
Harriet Tubman was a woman of many jobs and not only did she do them very well but she did them with love and with God in her heart. She is one of the most influential woman in U.S. history.
Harriet Tubman was one of the most influential women in the Civil War. She was the owner of many titles during that time, including the one “Moses,” which compared her to Moses from the Bible. Both Moses and Tubman were known for saving and rescuing many people. Tubman is credited with rescuing about 300 slaves from the South during the Civil War. She continued to return back to the South, in order to bring more slaves to freedom in the North. Harriet Tubman had a harsh childhood due to slavery, a dangerous career freeing slaves, and received many awards and accomplished tremendous things.
A historic phenomenon known as the Underground Railroad left an immense impact on the history of slaves and abolitionists. A notorious woman by the name of Harriet Tubman had a paramount role in this audacious and venturesome event. She was even nicknamed Moses from the Bible! Multitudinous slaves had followed Harriet, trusting her as their leader to guide them through the routes of the Underground Railroad; therefore, it is suitable and appropriate to say Harriet Tubman was an extraordinary heroine. Her fervid and passionate determination made her capable of traveling to the Underground Railroad. Using that driven motivation, she assisted countless slaves to their freedom.
Harriet Ross Tubman was an African American who escaped slavery and then showed runaway slaves the way to freedom in the North for longer than a decade before the American Civil War. During the war she was as a scout, spy, and nurse for the United States Army. After that she kept working for rights for blacks and women.
Harriet Tubman had a saying: “Never wound a snake; kill it.” What does this mean to you? It means that you should not let something evil live, but destroy it, and make a way for others. She was always doubted, but Harriet Tubman was willing to risk her life and save other slaves from abusive masters.
She was well respected among the army and was thought of as the best woman for the job. She was tasked with several mission trips where that required her to liberate multiple slaves. Prior to the war Harriet Tubman returned to Auburn, New York where she spoke at ladies’ suffrage gatherings. Other great women in American history were also present at these meetings. For example. Susan B. Anthony was a speaker at several of these suffrage meetings. Youthful Harriet Tubman was harmed when master tasked with her long errands that were suited for someone ways past her age and ability. The flashback of her two sisters being taken away from her and sold off in a slave trade remained in Harriet Tubman’s mind for the rest of her life. As an adolescent, Harriet Tubman had a hardship brought upon her. She was accidently struck with a 20 pound weight tossed by her furious master on her forehead. This event caused her to suffer a serious recuperation as she lived with the inability to remember simple things for the remainder of her life. For the duration of her life she endured deep sleeps, or uncontrolled rest that conquered her all of a sudden as an aftereffect of the damage received by the weight. Rather than conceding to the reality of the unfavorable situation and giving up hope, young Harriet Tubman elected to turn to God, building up a solid
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.
After Harriet successfully escaped from slavery, she found employment and found herself working with abolitionist like William Still and John Brown. Within a year, she made her first journey to returned to slave-holding states to rescue her niece and her two children. She made her second trip rescuing her brother James and other friends. Harriet uses the secret network "Underground Railroad" to help slaves escape slavery. Tubman made her third trip rescuing his free husband Johh Tubman but he remarried again and he didn't want to leave and Harriet went to a house and found there were more slaves so she helped them escape slavery. She led them safely to the northern free states and to Canada. It was very dangerous to be a runaway slave.