Harriet+Tubman

Introduction “It was hard work, it was risky work, it was dangerous work, but I’m glad I done it” –Harriet Tubman (Rodger). Harriet Tubman had much significance during the time of the Civil War (King). She had to overcome many obstacles and she was very heroic in many ways. Harriet’s long, dangerous journeys seemed worth her while .Her hard work and dedication that she had, set a great example for many females around the world. Tubman only had one goal that was necessary for her to achieve, and that was to not only free herself, a black female slave, but to also free many other helpless slaves (King).

Personal Background Harriet Tubman was born a slave in Dorchester County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore (McCabe). It seems ironic that she never knew her birth year (Quist). Being a slave ran in her families’ blood. Tubman was the granddaughter of a Native American (Minor). She was not just any slave, she was a fugitive slave (Rodger). Many people’s nickname for her was “Moses” (King). She was also known as “Minty” or “General Tubman” (Minor). Her Background had to do a lot with why she did what she did for the people of Dorchester. In 1849 she was stolen away for the first time (McCabe). Because of her many achievements, in 1855, she had forty- thousand dollars on her head (Rodger). To come to her rescue, Tubman’s husband purchased her for twenty dollars (King). Harriet Tubman’s birth name was Arminta Ross (Quist). Her first husband’s name was John Tubman (McCabe). Later, Harriet married a man named Nelson Davis (King). After the death of her second husband, Harriet received widow’s pension (Minor). Harriet Tubman served in the Union Army (Singer). She always disguised herself in the civil war (King). At first, Harriet was a spy during the war. Then, she served as a nurse, and finally, she was a scout (Singer).

Personality Traits Harriet Tubman was a woman who contained many positive personality traits. Tubman influenced people by telling her difficult story, and how she had to deal with many tasks (King). For example, she had not been taught to read, but she was wise and clever (McCabe). Her cleverness shows that she knew how to outwit masters (McCabe). Also, she set a great example for others. In particular, feminists used her as a role model (Minor). Harriet earned the respect and esteem of her contemporaries (Minor). Tubman’s boldness earned her respect, because she was not afraid to put her foot down; she fought for what she believed was morally right (Quist).

Harriet was a very courageous woman (King). She was also committed to all of the goals that were necessary for her to achieve (Rodger). Tubman was known as a very responsible leader (Singer). For example, she never lost a passenger on the Underground Railroad. It is also evident that Harriet was a very responsible person (McCabe). She had also been a deliverer to hundreds of her people (Singer). Harriet helped liberate seven hundred captive slaves (Rodger). This shows that she was so successful in her efforts (McCabe). Another aspect of Harriet Tubman was that she was caring, because she nursed U.S soldiers and refugees (Quist).

Obstacles Harriet Tubman had many difficult obstacles that she needed to overcome. Her physical appearance made it challenging for her, because she was a black, slave born women who had no rights (King). Tubman’s participation in the Woman’s Rights and Suffrage movement was minimal (Minor). What made it worse was that she was born to enslaved parents (Minor).  Since she really had no one by her side, she never learned how to read or write (McCabe). She never even knew the year that she was born (Quist). Harriet was always trying to help other slaves escape to freedom. She would often take slaves from a plantation in her master’s horse and buggy (McCabe). Tubman was often treated very poorly by her masters. They were always so ruthless and cruel. The abusing of her masters made her suffer severe head trauma (Rodger). The severe injuries often lead her to have seizures (Rodger). Harriet Tubman had two major obstacles that affected her. The first, was the tragic death of her mother and father, because now she really had no one (Singer). The second, was the destruction of her home, because of a fire that had occurred (Singer).

Historical Significance Harriet Tubman was significant and meaningful to many people. In 1849, Tubman was involved in many events. One great event is that she stole away for the very first time (McCabe). On September 17, 1849 she also escaped to Philadelphia (Rodger). Harriet Tubman knew that she needed to help out her family members. In 1857, Harriet rescued her enslaved parents (King). Harriet also accompanied her sister and her sister’s children north to freedom (McCabe). To the fugitives from slavery, Harriet Tubman was known as “Moses” (King). She was highly praised for helping three-hundred slaves gain their freedom (McCabe). Tubman also took a major role as the conductor of an underground railroad. Harriet made at least fourteen trips and liberated at least sixty captives (Minor).  Harriet Tubman had many jobs besides being the Underground Railroad conductor (Minor). She also was a part of many events during and after the Civil War (Minor). She serviced as a nurse to many sick or even injured people (King). After all that she did for helpless people, they made a Harriet Tubman Home for Aged and Infirmed Negroes in 1908 (King). They constructed this building as an act of appreciation. Harriet was also an Avid supporter of the Women’s Suffrage Program (King). In the civil war, Tubman took part as being a spy (Minor). She was a very kind person and cared for indigent African Americans (Quist). In Springfield, her portrayal was at a Civil War program (Rodger). In Washington, D.C, she performed for the Congressional Black Caucus (Rodger). Her performances were also shown in the National Park Service (Rodger). As a reward, black abolitionist papers credited Tubman for her achievements (Singer).Tubman was referred to military parlance as General Tubman (Singer). Harriet also took great responsibility in the Union Army (Singer). Harriet Tubman left a great impression and was thanked for everything that she had achieved as a fugitive slave (Rodger).

References King, Wilma "Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom/Harriet Tubman: The Life and the Life Stories/Bound for the Promised Land: Harriet...." //Journal of Southern History // 3(2005):692. //eLibrary //. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. **SE#6**

McCabe, Suzanne "Harriet Tubman and the freedom train." //Junior Scholastic //. 13 Dec. 2002: 12. //eLibrary //<span style="color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">. Web. 24 Sep. 2014. **SE#1**

<span style="background-color: #f1f5f4; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Minor, Fulton, DoVeanna S. "Harriet Tubman: Myth, Memory, and History." //<span style="background-color: #f1f5f4; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline;">Biography //<span style="background-color: #f1f5f4; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> 2(2009):366. //<span style="background-color: #f1f5f4; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline;">eLibrary //<span style="background-color: #f1f5f4; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">. Web. 16 Jan. 2015. **SE#5**

<span style="background-color: #f1f5f4; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12.222222328186px;">Quist,W,John "Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom." //<span style="color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12.222222328186px; vertical-align: baseline;">Journal of American History //<span style="background-color: #f1f5f4; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12.222222328186px;"> 1(2005):216. //<span style="color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12.222222328186px; vertical-align: baseline;">eLibrary //<span style="background-color: #f1f5f4; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12.222222328186px;">. Web. 15 Oct. 2014. **SE#3**

<span style="background-color: #f1f5f4; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Rodger, Bloomington,Ill "Harriet Tubman' tells her story in Normal." //<span style="color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: baseline;">McClatchy -Tribune Business News //<span style="background-color: #f1f5f4; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">//.// 18 Sep. 2014. //<span style="color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: baseline;">eLibrary //<span style="background-color: #f1f5f4; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">. Web.02 Oct. 2014. **SE#2**

<span style="background-color: #f1f5f4; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12.222222328186px;">Singer, Alan "We May Never Know the Real Harriet Tubman." //<span style="color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12.222222328186px; vertical-align: baseline;">Afro - Americans in New York Life and History //<span style="background-color: #f1f5f4; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12.222222328186px;">. 01 Jan. 2012: 64. //<span style="color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12.222222328186px; vertical-align: baseline;">eLibrary //<span style="background-color: #f1f5f4; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12.222222328186px;">. Web. 06 Nov. 2014. **SE#4** <span style="background-color: #f1f5f4; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12.222222328186px;">