Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman was born a slave in Maryland’s Dorchester County around 1820. Harriet saw firsthand what slavery was like. In her early teens, Harriet stood in the doorway to protect a slave from an angry overseer. In the process she was hit in the head with a large weight. She never fully recovered from the blow, but her desire to help other slaves grew stronger.

By the time Harriet was 29, she heard rumors that the slaves where she worked were about to be sold and sent further south. Harriet did not want that to happen, so late one night she went to the home of a white woman who promised to help her escape. She went from home to home. She eventually made her way to the North, hiding by day and traveling by night. She finally crossed the border of Pennsylvania where slavery was not allowed.

The people who helped Harriet Tubman escape were members of the Underground Railroad. It wasn’t a real railroad but a network of people willing to hide slaves and help them escape. The slaves escaped to either free northern states or Canada. Harriet joined the Underground Railroad helping more slaves including her family escape. She made over 19 trips and helped over 300 slaves escape. At one point there was a reward of $12,000 offered for her capture. Harriet Tubman was happy to say that not one slave had been lost on her watch. She was an influence to so many.